From Guest Blogger Dixie Somers: How the Military Is Incorporating Green Technologies
America depends on its military to keep the country safe, and it still has to have the ability to maintain troops and power military operations. As anyone with an online military history degree knows, for years the military has been heavily dependent on foreign oil and utilizing gas guzzling vehicles for land and air support. The implementation of green energy sources, such as renewable batteries, solar panels, and bio-fuels are all steps to ensure a more secure and cleaner military.
Moving to Independent Green Energy
The Department of Defense is the largest consumer of energy in the United States, and petroleum-based fossil fuels are the highest in demand. The threat of a possible disruption in energy supply, due to foreign oil suppliers, cost, and securing energy sources are always a concern. The Department of Defense has planned to have 3 gigawatts of renewable energy to power military facilities by 2025. Energy initiatives have required a minimum number of new facility constructions to meet “net-zero” energy goals. Fort Stewart in Georgia is one of the largest renewable energy producers. Fort Hood developed a wind and solar project in Texas, capable of producing 230 Gigawatts of renewable energy.
Saving Money and Saving Lives
The Air Force uses 2.4 billion gallons of jet fuel annually. The introduction of bio-fuels created from algae and used cooking oils have proven just as efficient as petroleum based fossil fuels, for powering military transport vehicles. An exercise off the Pacific Rim was used to prove the efficiency and cost effectiveness of alternative green fuels. Investors in bio-fuel energy can feel confident that there will be stability in green fuel technologies for military use. Fuel cells have been created for individual soldiers to power their supplies. Tent liners have been developed that increase heat and air conditioning efficiency. Portable solar-panel blankets were utilized by soldiers in Afghanistan in 2010, in order to power communication systems. Green technology increases the effectiveness of individual soldiers and group missions, which helps to use less people and money for operations.
Alternative Energy Initiatives Are Here to Stay
The military is a leader of America’s political direction. If alternative fuels and green construction maintain and increase military might, other sectors in society follow suit. The utilization of green energy by the military cements the use of sustainable energy sources, develops new jobs, and builds consumer confidence in the power of solar, wind and alternative fuel energy.
The concern the military has for energy efficiency is only recent. I remember when I worked for Onan, a manufacturer of generators and engines, the most common small generator for the military was the 5GF. It was rated at 5 KW, but used about twice as much fuel as civilian generators which produced the same power. That is only one of several examples I could give.
The replacement for the Jeep, i.e., the Humvee, is horribly fuel inefficient.
For vehicles and generators, the military has to transport fuel which adds greatly to the cost of the fuel. Thus, fuel efficiency, to the extent possible, is very important.