Both the U.S. Navy and Army are helping to lead the way with some new sustainability initiatives that are making a real difference. It may sound like a lot of greenwashing at first, but you just have to look at what has already been accomplished to be impressed with the results and hopeful for the future.

The winner for design excellence in Bremerton, Wash.

Despite being based on sea power, the U.S. Navy has been making a splash on land with its green building initiatives. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) manages the planning, design, construction, contingency engineering, real estate, environmental, and public works support for U.S. Navy shore facilities around the world. They provide the Navy's forces with the operating, expeditionary, support and training bases they need. NAVFAC is a global organization with an annual volume of business in excess of $7.6 billion. Integrating green building initiatives into this program not only means a huge increase in the buildings themselves; it spreads it out across the entire budget, and the entire world. That’s huge.

On May 5, 2005, NAVFAC announced its annual Design Awards winners. At the top of the list is the “Commander’s Award for Design Excellence.” The top honor was presented to the clinic addition and renovation of the Naval Hospital in Bremerton, Wash. The project was designed by NBBJ, architects based in Seattle, and administered by Engineering Field Activity Northwest. Designed to reflect a nautical theme -- and oriented to the waters of Puget Sound -- the expansive glass enclosure enables natural light to reduce energy requirements for lighting while shielding the interior from excessive solar heat gain.

Another notable winner of a design award is the “Merit Award for Environmental Design” going to the RTC Recruit Barracks Prototype Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill. Sustainable design and construction objectives are obvious throughout the project. Preservation of an existing grove of oak trees and the creation of three landscaped retention swales planted with the native plants reduce the effects of water-born pollutants and rainwater runoff on sewers. Environmentally friendly and high-recycled content materials were specified (such as 25 percent fly-ash content in concrete) along with low VOC content in paint coatings and adhesives, and recycled steel roof. The facility has been registered with the US Green Building Council for LEED certification.

Renewable energy: blowin' in the wind.

The Navy has done much more than just give itself awards, however deserving they may be. In 2004, the Navy became the first U.S. government agency honored with a Platts Global Energy Award for its extraordinary leadership and achievement in energy management. And as the world celebrated the 35th anniversary of Earth Day in May, the Department of the Navy debuted its largest wind energy project to date, at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Four 275-foot wind turbines with blades spanning 177 feet, making them visible throughout the base and surrounding areas of Cuba, began operating on John Paul Jones Hill, the base’s highest point. At 35 mph, the turbines produce their maximum energy of about 3.8 megawatts, which is enough electricity to supply about 25 percent of the peak power needed to operate the base. The turbines are expected to produce 7520 megawatt hours each year, saving a whopping 650,000 gallons of diesel fuel (from generators) and reducing air pollution annually by 26 tons of sulfur dioxide and 15 tons of nitrous oxide. The wind turbines will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 13 million pounds per year; all these reductions will help save the Navy about $1.2 million a year, paying for the project’s $11.8 million price tag in just under a decade.

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The new Army: powered by the sun.

The U.S. Army is also making inroads into sustainability, both through materials and base practices around the country and the world. Early last month, the Army reported that it had contracted Konarka Technologies Inc. to help it test flexible plastic sheeting that converts light into energy. Better known to most of us as photovoltaic solar power, this new technology would be applicable in the field for everything that usually needs batteries (night vision goggles, computers, GPS units) and even on larger structures like tents. The Army's Soldier Systems Center, which tests battlefield technology, said troops will recharge electronic devices by connecting them with sunlight-soaking plastic sheets, replacing disposable batteries and easing logistical requirements in remote settings. Konarka said that it is working to improve its camouflage-patterned material so that it could even be woven into soldiers’ clothing.

"Coloring and patterning is unique to Konarka's technology," Konarka R&D Vice President Russell Gaudiana, said in the statement. "Other photovoltaics require camouflage covers to disguise them, but that reduces light harvesting and power output. Our materials can be printed with the appropriate images while still maintaining their power generating capabilities, helping to protect soldiers in the field."

The Army is also working hard to improve energy efficiency and sustainability here in the States. One of the best example is at Fort Lewis in Lakewood, Wash. Leaders of the sustainability movement there have put together an impressive list of successes, and goals for the future to make Fort Lewis one of the most environmentally-friendly Army bases in the world. From compressed natural gas and biodiesel stations on base to expanding use of recycled carpet tiles to insuring zero discharge of wastewater, Fort Lewis has the ball rolling in the right direction. Colonel Steven T. Perrenot, Director of Public Works at Fort Lewis, said, "I believe that we are making a difference. The diligent efforts of many people on the installation -- with the support of local, state, regional and national stakeholders -- has kept the momentum building. Our efforts reflect a new way of conducting business that I consider essential for the training mission of Fort Lewis."

By 2025, the base will reduce emissions by 85 percent, sustain itself with it's energy generated on base or using renewable energy sources, have all facilities on base adhere to the LEED Platinum ratings and cycle all material use to achieve zero net waste. When considering that they’re going to do all these things while maintaining a fully operational Army base, it’s quite a daunting and impressive list.

Another good example of sustainability on base is at Fort Campbell, in Kentucky, which is leading the way following Executive Order 13148. This presidential order, entitled “Greening the Government Through Leadership in Environmental Management” states in part that "all necessary actions [must be] taken to integrate environmental accountability into agency day-to-day decision making and long-term planning processes, across all [federal] agency missions, activities, and functions." Fort Campbell is currently implementing ISO 14001 to comply with this executive order, and have set some impressive goals as a result. They aim to eliminate waste disposal by 2028, and procure 100 percent sustainable goods and services by 2028.

All of these goals and expectations may sound like a lot of promises by one of the country’s largest operations and consumers that won’t be easy to fulfill, but recent trends suggest otherwise. The military has realized that there are economic gains aplenty to be had by switching to a more sustainable course of action, and money talks in a language that is easy to understand, social and environmental advantages notwithstanding. Regardless of the impetus, the military has taken advantage of its position as innovator to bring some change for the good. Though we will all never agree on what the military should do with its resources, we can all acknowledge that they are making important advances that benefit us all. It may be hard to believe, but from the green building initiatives to the solar-energy-producing fabric, the military has begun to look fabulous, live well, and do good.

Collin Dunn is Editor-in-Chief of SASS Magazine.