The US Army is actively working to reduce its carbon footprint in order to save lives of soldiers in Iraq and make its operations more environmentally sustainable. The goal is to decrease Army emissions of carbon dioxide by 30 percent by 2015. Deputy assistant secretary Tad Davis is focused on determining the greenhouse gas emissions of the Army in the next few years. "We aim to decrease emissions while also reducing energy consumption from fossil fuels. The Army has been advocating for environmental sustainability at all of its bases, beginning with Fort Bragg in North Carolina in 2001," Davis explained. This involved reconfiguring the setup of training ranges, as Fort Bragg has historically featured mock towns and villages for combat training, each of which previously cost up to $400,000 to construct." Davis explained that now, instead of being made of traditional materials, they are constructed from recycled shipping containers the size of trucks, costing around $25,000. This not only helps keep the shipping containers out of the waste stream but also reduces the risk faced by convoys during the Iraq war. These convoys, stretching from Kuwait to the battlefield, were often targeted by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), with much of the cargo being fuel. Davis pointed out that by decreasing the amount of fuel needed on the front line, fewer vehicles would be required in the convoy, thus reducing the vulnerability of soldiers. He suggested using renewable energy sources like wind or solar power at forward operating bases instead of diesel generators to further decrease the need for risky supply convoys. A recent survey conducted on U.S. forward bases in Djibouti, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan revealed that a significant amount of power, approximately 85 percent, was being used for air conditioning. This was done not only to provide comfort for sleeping, but also to keep communications equipment cool. According to Davis, poorly insulated tents and temporary buildings are common in these areas, making it a challenge to keep them cool. One solution that was found was to use foam insulation sprayed directly on tents, which reduced energy loss by 45 percent. However, reducing greenhouse emissions from Army vehicles presents a different challenge, as making vehicles like the Humvee or Bradley fighting vehicle more lightweight to save fuel would also mean offering less protection for troops. However, Davis pointed out that there is potential for change with the advancement of technology in producing lighter armor. He believes that there may be a shift towards more hybrid vehicles in the military fleet. Davis also expressed doubt about the claim that the US military is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. While the exact numbers are uncertain, the Army has taken steps to track their carbon footprint, starting with an online program at Fort Carson in Colorado. The data shows that Fort Carson emits 205,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year, equivalent to a town of 25,000 people. The system created by Enviance, a California-based company, will eventually be implemented across all Army bases. It is currently being utilized by corporations and utilities in 45 countries to monitor adherence to environmental and safety laws, according to Enviance's president Lawrence Goldenhersh.