Navy going green at Guantanamo

2/14/2012

Guantanamo Bay Naval Base may be best known as the stronghold of the Pentagon justice system, but it is also at the forefront of the Department of Defense's push to go green. Despite the challenges of an offshore base, military officials are making headway with eco-friendly efforts, The Miami Herald reports.

The Navy as a whole is looking to cut its dependence on fossil fuels by 2020, but the need is even greater at Guantanamo Bay. Because most supplies have to arrive by aircraft or by ship, experts estimate that the base spends around $100,000 each day on fuel - so making cuts is especially important.

There has been some progress. According to the newspaper, four windmills were installed at the base in 2005, which ended up supplying Guantanamo with about 25 percent of its power. Additionally, patrols along the outer edge use bicycles instead of gas-guzzling vehicles and recently-added solar powered lights provide additional savings.

Going green is a military-wide initiative, and according to Los Angeles' KCET, there are several technologies that are making it a bit easier. Perhaps most noticeable is the use of on-base electric cars. The innovative vehicles have been popping up on roads across the country and are also in use by the Armed Forces.