US military conserving fuel to save lives, money

[Barrett808]

Source: Reuters

US military conserving fuel to save lives, money
By Rebekah Kebede

NEW YORK, Dec 06 (Reuters) - New U.S. military energy conservation measures could cut escalating war costs and the number of deaths for troops transporting fuel in combat zones, according to experts.

Spending on fuel for U.S. combat forces in Iraq surged 27 percent over the past year to $1.17 billion, according to the Defense Energy Support Center, a figure dwarfed by the associated costs of transporting and protecting the fuel on its way to the troops.

"The Department of Defense's problem with petroleum is that they use too much of it. So much of it, that it is a burden on our operational forces," said Tom Morehouse, an energy consultant affiliated with the Institute for Defense Analyses.

The U.S. military is working on cutting fuel demand by insulating tents with spray foam and by using hybrid generators to produce electricity, according to Dan Nolan of the U.S. Army's Rapid Equipping Force.

"You talk about those things and everyone thinks about the Birkenstock wearing tree-huggers," said Nolan, who heads up the military task force charged with cutting energy use. "What we have the opportunity to do is change the culture, change how people think about this."

Read more: http://mobile.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N07332362.htm

[kestrel91316]

1. Ending the war altogether would save a hell of a lot MORE

lives, money, and oil.

But that would make way too much sense.

[gratuitous]

2. Oh no! Birkenstock wearing tree-huggers!

If there's anything that can bring the mighty U.S. wehrmacht to its knees, it's some hippie chick with hairy legs. And now look what's happened: Instead of the wanton combustion of manly fossil fuels, we're having to {shudder} conserve resources and figure out ways to stretch each gallon of fuel.

The flag is falling! The flag is falling! Has Dick Cheney been notified?