Earth Equity News

Defense Dept. Sizing its Carbon 'Bootprint'. By Jessica Leber, ClimateWire, July 20, 2009. "The U.S. military, the nation's single largest energy consumer -- at more than 1 percent of the U.S. total -- [is working on] recognizing and reducing its reliance on fossil fuels... In 2006 alone, the Pentagon bought 110 million barrels of oil and 3.8 billion kilowatts of electricity. To put that in perspective, it's about what the entire world uses each day... A presidential order currently requires federal departments to cut energy and water demand and use more renewable energy every year. In addition, Congress has mandated that the military consider climate change in its long-term planning. DOD itself is finishing a strategic energy security plan and testing how to factor fuel demand into purchasing, acquisition and long-term research and development decisions. Meanwhile, it is also sizing up its carbon 'bootprint' (see related story) and evaluating climate change risks in its upcoming defense review."