Going Green to Save U.S. Military $1.6 Billion Over TimeApril 16, 2010

 

The U.S. military's efforts to go green by conserving water and energy are starting to pay off, helping to reduce costs and dependence on foreign oil.

The Army cut water use by 31% and energy use by 10.4% since 2004 on its permanent bases and facilities around the world, according to Pentagon data cited by USA Today. These numbers do not include the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where energy and water consumption has risen because of troop deployments.

The U.S. military is the world’s single-largest oil consumer. It spent $13.6 billion for energy in 2006, using about 340,000 barrels of oil per day, according to a the Wharton's Aerospace & Defense Report article last year.

President Obama has budgeted about $2.7 billion in 2010 to improve energy efficiency for the armed forces, including switching to energy-efficient lighting, solar panels and low-flow toilets, according to the USA Today article. Joe Sikes, director of facilities energy at the Defense Department, told USA Today that the military's efforts will save the Pentagon at least $1.6 billion over time.

The Pentagon's strategy review, published earlier this year, noted it is in the nation's long-term interest and security to reduce foreign oil dependence and to lower carbon emissions. The Pentagon's motivation is less about going green and more about trimming costs. "The Army's mission is not to be green. Our mission is to defend the nation," Kevin Geiss, the Army's program director for energy security, told USA Today. "In that context, we've found it's in our interest to develop sustainable projects."

Another reason the military seeks greater fuel efficiency, the Wharton Aerospace and & Defense Report article notes, is that it reduces the number of convoys carrying fuel to supply the troops — always a weak link that insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan often attack. The USA Today report noted that the other services are also making progress. The Navy has targeted using 50% alternative fuels in its ships, jets and vehicles within the next 10 years.