First the bad news: Alarming numbers were revealed by the US Department of Defense and its enormous consumption of fuel in 2008:
- 4 billion gallons of jet fuel
- 220 million gallons of diesel
- 73 million gallons of gasoline
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are the worst offenders with a total spending of $20 billion in fuel — a $7 billion jump from 2006 and 2007.
The energy drain doesn’t stop there though, to house a troop of 4 – 5,000 soldiers in rented, generator-powered, air-conditioned tents costs about $3 million a month.
Now the good news: Defense training base, Ft. Irwin in the Mojave Desert, California, is testing some new energy efficient alternatives that will save the Department of Defense money and reduce carbon emissions.
New housing could reduce the energy demand by 45 – 75% — save the US Army $100 million over five years — and cut carbon emissions by 35 million pounds per year.
These initiatives could spill over into civilian life too. Now that is good news.
Source: LA Times