Evening star., 1945-01-21
brownout Rule
Begins 10 Show
Results in City
Check on Lights !
Under Way; Fuel !
Savings Reported

With less than two weeks Before
the War Production Boards brown
out" order becomes effective on
February /. Washington has made
a start in observing the voluntary
reduction of unnecessary lighting
and of heat in excess of 68 degrees,
as requested by War Mobilization
Director Byrnes.
Illuminated display signs are be-
coming more noticeable than ever
because of the contrast with those
already turned off in response to
the order
Cleaning workers in public build
ings who use lights extravagantly
after hours are finding that Charles
A. Peters, deputy commissioner in
charge of buildings management,
and members of his staff may be
quick to notice the extra illumina-
ton from outside and that another
reminder will reach them asking
for a minimum number of lights at
night.
Checking Late at Night.
Il personally have been doing
some checking on that, sometimes
as late as midnight, said Mr.. Peters.
Some of my assistants are out even
later. The number of lights burning
at night during the cleaning period
has been substantially reduced.
we are also working with chief
clerks and administrative officials
and urging such things as turning
OH lights in an Office when the oc-
cupants leave for lunch, Or when
sunlight makes electric lights un-
necessary. We won't know how
much Of a saving we are accomp-
fishing because it will be about a
month before we get the bills"
Robert E. Robson, District fuel
engineer, who is concerned with
heating about 200 District govern
ment buildings, said that because
OF the 68 degree temperature 'it
looks now as though we are going
to save 20 per cent of the fuel as
compared with last year" He said
the saving would be between 5000
and 1000 tons.
Moisture Is Important.
Mr.. Robson said the District gov
ernment would probably do a bit
better than the Federal Govern
ment." Of importance is the edu-
cauonal program for operating per-
sonnel and employees in general to
impress on them how to maintain
moisture in the air. "A pan of
water on the radiator will add
greatly to the sense of comfort at
68 degrees" he said.
A. Julian Brylawski, president OF
the Theater Owners Association.
SAID the movies already are reduc-
ing their outside illumination by
about 60 per cent.
employees of The Star and ten
ants OF the Star Building have
been requested to turn out lights
when not needed. and office radia-
tors are being turned of at night
and over week ends.
The Raleigh Hotel has been con-
serving light as the result of the
earlier dimout orders. This was done
by merely replacing a single mar
quee light of 200 watts with one of
a hundred watts. 1t was said that
where possible lights also are be-
ing cut down inside the building.
Many Signs Darkened.
Samuel Wainwright, marketing
assistant at the Standard Oil Co.
said the signs at the five entrances
Of the Capitol Service Center at
26l Constitution avenue have been
darkened, and or 10 smaller signs
as we'll The company has urged
compliance with the conservation
program by all of its employees.
In the saving of fuel other con-
sumers have examples of the Gov
ernment and the Public Library.
Mr.. Peters reported the daily saw
ing of los tons of coal, or Is per
cent, since the program to reduce
temperatures to 68 degrees in 325
Federal buildings.
Mr.. Peters said the complaints
that buildings are cold and temper
atures are below 68 are fewer than
at the start of the drive. we
watch the temperatures and We are
getting some of the heating kinks
Strengthened out" he said.
Asked about complaints OF the
cold when the room temperature is
up to 10, Mr.. Peters replied, Some
people are cold at 70 degrees"
Monitor System Adopted.
In some offices, especially in the
/ ri,
tenn has been established, with a
monitor for each room or two
charged with the responsibility of
shutting off the radiator when 6S
degrees is reached.
/ There was report that in the
Pentagon the lowering of tempera-
lures had been accompanied by an
increase in head colds treated by
the dispensaries and clinics in the
buildings This, however, was
denied, and it was stated there was
no change in the number of pa
tients with colds applying at the
medical centers.
! Alvan C. Chaney, superintendent
of Public Library buildings, said
strict controls at the central Pub
lie Library have resulted in a fuel
saving of from 20 to Is per cent.
A guard takes temperature read
ings at strategic points hourly and
reports them to the engine room,
where the steam supply is regulated
accordingly.
The program has been in effect
there since early in the heating
season and this week is being ex-
tended to the rest of the 13 sepa-
rately heated buildings. Engineers
keep a record of the number of
shovels of coal thrown on their
fires each day.