The US Army is making efforts to reduce its carbon footprint by cutting greenhouse emissions in order to not only protect the environment, but also to save the lives of soldiers in Iraq who are targeted due to fuel-laden convoys. The goal is to decrease Army emissions of carbon dioxide by 30 percent by 2015, with a focus on sustainability and limiting the use of fossil fuels in various operations. Deputy assistant secretary for environment, safety and occupational health, Tad Davis, is leading the initiative to track and reduce the Army's greenhouse gas emissions. "We aim to reduce emissions and decrease energy consumption from fossil fuels while promoting environmental sustainability across all Army bases. This initiative began at Fort Bragg in North Carolina in 2001, where changes were made to the setup of training ranges. Previously, mock towns and villages used for combat training at Fort Bragg cost up to $400,000 each to build." Davis mentioned that the structures are now constructed from recycled shipping containers the size of trucks, which cost around $25,000 each. By using these containers, they are able to reduce waste. During the early years of the Iraq war, convoys were at risk from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) due to the long supply chain from Kuwait to the battlefield. A large portion of the cargo was fuel, which made the convoys vulnerable. To decrease the risk to soldiers, it was decided to reduce the amount of fuel needed on the front line. Davis explained that by utilizing renewable energy sources like wind or solar power instead of diesel generators at the forward operating bases, they could decrease the number of supply convoys that were targeted by IEDs. A recent study of U.S. forward bases in Djibouti, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan revealed that the majority of energy consumption, around 85 percent, was dedicated to air conditioning. This was necessary not only for the comfort of sleeping quarters but also to keep communication equipment from overheating. Davis noted that the standard poorly insulated tents and temporary structures in these regions posed a challenge in maintaining cool temperatures. One solution was to apply foam insulation directly onto the tents, resulting in a 45 percent reduction in energy loss. However, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from Army vehicles presents a different obstacle, as making vehicles like the Humvee or Bradley fighting vehicle lighter in order to save fuel could compromise the protection of troops. Davis mentioned that there is new technology developing that allows for lighter armor, which could lead to an increase in hybrid vehicles being used in the military. He also expressed doubt about the claim that the US military is one of the largest producers of greenhouse gases globally. The Army is beginning to track their carbon emissions, starting with Fort Carson in Colorado, which emits approximately 205,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year, equivalent to a town of 25,000 residents. Enviance's system, developed in California, will eventually be implemented across all Army bases. The system is currently being used by corporations and utilities in 45 countries to monitor adherence to environmental and safety regulations, according to Enviance's president Lawrence Goldenhersh.