Live from the IMCOM Garrison Commander's Conference

Installation Energy and Sustainability

IMCOM’s Garrison Commanders Conference is shining a bright spotlight on the need for Army installations to use less energy – and use it smarter – as they continue to focus on the well-being of Soldiers and Families and on supporting an expeditionary Army at war.

Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, commanding general, said he has seen installation energy bills triple in recent years – a clear signal that garrison commanders and staffs must take new and different actions that have impact today and in the long-term. Building on Lt. Gen Lynch’s direction, Brigadier Gen. Al Aycock, IMCOM deputy commanding general, urged installations to make the security of their energy supplies a top priority, along with improving conservation and efficiency.

The leaders’ comments set off a sharing of “smart energy” practices. Installations mentioned posting an “electricity meter” icon on their Web pages to make energy use visible to Soldiers, Families and Civilians. Other installations are modifying their generating and heating systems to switch between fuels and get the lowest price. Fort Bliss, in Texas, declared its goal of being “The Army’s Center for Renewable Energy” and is exploring innovative energy-saving technologies as well as solar, biomass and geothermal energy sources. Detroit Arsenal is selling unused energy back to suppliers and is working to get tenant organizations to generate power onsite. Other installations are replacing conventional incandescent and compact fluorescent lighting with even more efficient light-emitting diodes, and more are expanding the use of hybrid and low-speed electric vehicles to reduce oil consumption.

Repeated Army deployments also present opportunities to save energy. Some installations are closely regulating allowable electricity use when Soldiers deploy and return, based on the varying occupancy levels of buildings. Some installations are applying private-sector business process improvements tools – Lean Six Sigma heads the list – to dig deep into complicated energy and sustainability issues.

Some installations are taking decidedly low-tech approaches to save energy and improve sustainability. Banning Styrofoam containers and packing material reduces waste volumes – and disposal costs. Installing recycling containers that are larger than trash bins sends Soldiers and Families a subtle – but strong – message. Setting up a telephone tree to quickly initiate power-saving measures when electricity prices spike creates significant savings.

Lt. Gen. Lynch was clear in his energy message to installations: “I expect garrison commanders and their command sergeants major to embrace the idea that we can save money by saving energy. I’m going to ask every garrison what they’re doing to save energy. It’s right for the environment, and it’s right way for us to manage installations. Let’s be an impetus for a conservation culture in the United States.”