by Ann Withanee — November 5, 2010—The U.S. Army issued two new policy memorandums on October 27, one to improve its high-performance green buildings standards and another to require light bulbs such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) that are more efficient than standard bulbs.
Both measures are designed to increase energy security, energy efficiency, and sustainability for the Army. The first memo, “Memorandum for Sustainable Design and Development Policy Update,” changes the way the Army will approach efficient design of its facilities for more responsible planning and consumption. Preliminary analysis by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicates energy savings over current design of 45 percent or greater.
The second update, a “Memorandum on the Utilization of Efficient Lighting,” aims to completely replace all inefficient incandescent lighting on Army installations within five years.
New efficient lighting will use three to five times less electricity than an incandescent bulb over the same period, according to the Army. When older installed bulbs burn out and the Army’s existing inventory is depleted, only efficient light bulbs may be purchased. CFLs require significantly less energy to produce the same amount of light, and they need replacement six times less often, the Army said. The memo establishes policy and guidance to use only efficient light bulbs that meet standards outlined in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which requires the manufacture of energy efficient light bulbs, with efficiency standards phasing in between 2012 and 2014.
