Even the Pentagon is Going Green

After reading and posting about the White House Going Green, it got us thinking if other branches of the government were also getting into the act.

I will say that we were a little suprised to find the Pentagon in our search as they are not the image you have when you think of “tree hugging environmentalists” trying to save the earth.   After reading “Pentagon Looks at Green Options“, it definitely made sense and we have a new appreciation of good reasons to “go green”.

The article discusses the fact that even after a 5% reduction in overall energy costs between 2005 and 2007, the Pentagon still spent over $13 Billion on energy.  While that number alone is a good reason to look for ways to save energy, the real cost of energy, and specifically fuel, is much more important to the US military:

“When you don’t use as much fuel, not only does it not cost you as much, but it also saves lives and injuries of those people who would have to deliver fuel through hostile territory,” Assistant Army Secretary for Installations and the Environment Keith Eastin said.”

“The stakes are high, with the army estimating that reducing fuel consumption by just one per cent translates to about 6400 fewer soldiers in fuel convoys, a favourite target of insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Now if that is not a compelling reason to look for ways to reduce fuel and energy costs I don’t know what is.

The rest of the article discusses some ways that the Pentagon is looking to reduce energy costs and how many smaller companies are getting involved to work on the initiative.

Not to sound like we are preaching here, but this is another great example of why “going green” is not only good for the earth.  It is a matter of life and death for the brave soldiers that serve in our military.  Hopefully, some of these new advancements can help reduce our reliance on traditional fuels and keep more soldiers out of harms way.

Technorati Profile

Popularity: 10% [?]

Be Sociable, Share!

•