Why the Military Hates Fossil Fuels

A strange thing has happened in the politicization of climate change: Oil has become something conservatives must love, while things like energy efficiency and renewable energy have become stand-ins for liberal politics, government intervention, taxes, take your pick. So it is that people are always surprised to learn that one of the biggest proponents of green technology in the United States is that most conservative of organizations, the U.S. military. Reducing energy use, in particular this country’s dependence on fossil fuels, has become a priority amongst all branches of the military pretty much since we got involved in Iraq and Afghanistan, and given that the Department of Defense is the single largest consumer of energy in the country (spending about $4 billion per year on facility energy consumption), it has started with its own house.

Time and again top military leaders have spoken out against our dependence on oil as a matter of national security. The thing you need to remember about the military, though, is that it’s comprised more of doers than talkers. To wit, the Department of Defense has been making major investments of time and money in green technology of various kinds over the last several years, and has been executing plans to improve efficiency and reduce energy usage far faster than any of the countless state, local and federal programs we hear so much more about.

The work has begun, as any resource optimization plan should, with efficiency. In addition to the Air Force’s energy conservation program, the DoD is researching and testing several technologies through its Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP). Concurrently, the Army and Navy have both kicked off net zero programs, aimed at reducing not only energy use on bases, but also water use and waste. The Navy is aiming for 50 percent of its bases to have net zero energy consumption by 2020. Compared to any states renewable energy portfolio standard or energy efficiency program that is extremely aggressive, but the Navy is confident it will get it done.

The Army, meanwhile, kicked off a net-zero base competition in 2010, selecting winners for its net-zero base pilot program in spring 2011. The Army identified six net zero pilot installations in each of the energy, water, and waste categories and two integrated installations striving towards net zero on all fronts by 2020. In its Vision for Net Zero, the Army states:

By all accounts, the competition was a huge success, with base commanders putting a lot of time and energy into their proposals, and now even those that were not selected are forging ahead with their plans.

Gensler cites Major General Dana Pittard, Commanding General of Fort Bliss, in west Texas, as an example of such a commander. Although the net zero program has set 2020 as the target date, Commanding General Pittard intends to get his base to net zero energy by 2015.

The net zero programs are fairly thinly funded at the Pentagon level, but the individual bases have thrown their full support behind it, finding funding not only through various government programs but also from the private sector. It turns out most renewable energy developers and cleantech manufacturers would love to have a military base installation to showcase, and banks see the military as a great, low-risk investment.

There are a lot of moving pieces and a variety of agencies, companies, and funding sources involved, but that doesn’t seem to be slowing the military’s progress at all.

6 ways to cut down on household toxins

Few of us love to clean, but when we do, we do it with a vengeance, hauling out our heaviest-duty cleaners to disinfect every last inch.

Increasingly, experts are cautioning that having a house that’s too clean could actually be bad for your health.

“We don’t need to live in a sterile environment,” says Dr. Jeffrey Morrison, author of “Cleanse Your Body, Cleanse Your Mind.” “There’s a theory that people are having more allergies than ever before because they purify their homes so much that their bodies can’t properly create an immune response.”

So where is the balance between keeping your house free of germs and grime, and blasting them with the potentially harmful chemicals in many cleansers? We asked two experts for their healthy housecleaning tips — and the products they’ve banished from their own routines.

Take baby steps “Start with the least-aggressive cleaner, and work your way up,” Dellutri says. Sometimes plain old water can get the job done, especially paired with a microfiber cloth. If that doesn’t work, try a capful of vinegar or a few drops of mild dish soap in a bucket of water, Dellutri says. Bring out the heavy-duty cleaners or bleach only as a last resort. You may be surprised how little you need them.

Clean more often We know you don’t want to hear this, but think of it this way: If you make it a weekly habit, a five-minute cleaning session can go a long way. “I call it preventive maintenance,” says Dellutri. “If you haven’t cleaned your bathroom in three years, you’re going to need the big guns.” A good guideline for a basic cleaning routine is to do it once a month if you live alone, every other week if there are two of you, and weekly for a family of three or more.

Avoid antibacterial products A recent study at the University of Michigan School of Public Health found that antibacterial soaps may trigger allergies when overused by children. “In my opinion, there’s no reason to have any antibacterial soap in the house at all,” says Dr. Morrison. “It contains triclosan, which is a pesticide and an endocrine disruptor.” Replace your antibacterial hand soap with a glycerin- or castile-based variety.

Mix your own cleaning potions Why pay a premium for green cleaning products when it’s so easy to make your own? For a bathtub scrub, try 1 part borax to 4 parts baking soda. A mix of 2 parts olive oil to 1 part vinegar can polish your furniture. And boiling a pot of cinnamon on the stove can safely rid your kitchen of odors.

Go fragrance-free “Any time you smell a fragrance in a cleaning product, that’s a chemical,” says Dr. Morrison. “And air fresheners are just sending chemicals into the air that disguise the original odor.” To freshen indoor air naturally, use an air purifier. An allergen reduction filter for your furnace will also help, provided you change it every season.

Don’t overspray.  “In America, we think that more is better,” says “Healthy Housekeeper” Laura Dellutri, author of “The Overworked Mom’s Stress Free Homekeeping.” “It’s a whole mindset. So we go to clean a window, and we spray, spray, spray with cleaner.” Instead, start with the smallest possible amount of product, and add more as necessary.

Humanscale products earn Green Good Design Awards

HUMANSCALE’S PERSONAL zone air purifier and Horizon LED task light received awards at the recent 2011 Green Good Design Awards. Judges selected the products as outstanding examples of green design from among hundreds of submissions from more than twenty countries.

The personal zone air purifier is two and a half times more efficient than Energy Star requirements, produces zero ozone and is also the only air purifier to offer recyclable filters. The personal zone air purifier silently and unobtrusively filters out more than 99% of airborne contaminants including dust, smoke, bacteria, allergens, smog, viruses, and volatile organic compounds.

Engineered for incredible efficiency and hassle-free operation over its life span, the striking Horizon task light, featuring Thin Film LED Technology, consumes only nine watts of power and is rated for up to 50,000 hours of use. Its advanced design dramatically minimizes the number of components and simplifies disassembly. Horizon is made from 28% recycled and 99% recyclable material.

The Green Good Design Awards are organized by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

Pat Shingleton for May 19, 2011

TX Active has created a concrete coating that reduces nitrogen oxides, a smog-causing compound emitted by vehicles. Alcoa embraced this application to build an architectural panel that not only cleans itself but also the air around it. The aluminum panel includes a titanium dioxide coating that interacts with sunlight to break smog into a harmless residue easily washed away. The panels also support lower maintenance costs. Company officials report 10,000 square feet of panels have the air-cleansing power of nearly 80 trees. USA Today reported other pollution-fighting applications include ceiling tiles by Armstrong Ceiling and Wall Systems that remove formaldehyde. The Ionic Bulb by Zevotek is an energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamp that has an air purifier that eliminates allergens, pollen and dust.

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