“The Army’s mission is not to be green. Our mission is to defend the nation. In that context, we’ve found it’s in our interest to develop sustainable projects.” – Kevin Geiss, United States Army program director for energy security
The U.S. military is expected to save up to $1.6 Billion in costs through its diverse programs centering on increasing the efficiency of its operations through green initiatives. While Geiss is sure to point out that ‘going green’ is not a mission of the military, he does cite a Pentagon strategy review stating that consuming less foreign oil and contributing less to climate change are critical to long-term safety.
The Army has cut water usage at its permanent bases and other facilities around the world by 31% since 2004, and the military has spent more than $100 million on “spray foam” insulation for tents in Iraq and Afghanistan, cutting leakage of air conditioning by at least 50%.
Tad Davis, the Army’s deputy assistant secretary for environmental issues, states that “the energy savings usually recover the investment within 90 days.”
Read more at USA Today.