Fort Bliss Showcasing Energy-Efficient Buildings

When soldiers at Fort Bliss get the munchies, they can choose to come to one of the base’s dining halls.

What makes this dining hall stand out is the way it saves energy.

If you look up at the ceiling, you’ll notice what look like fluorescent lights, but they’re not. They’re actually tubes that work as fluorescent lights, and the only energy they use comes from the sun.

Meanwhile, there’s the insulation. Fort Bliss has begun remodeling a number of the buildings in an effort to cut cooling and heating costs.

“The insulation is a simple design with styrofoam; you put it on the outside of the building…this will reduce the energy consumption by 30 percent,” says Toufic Al-Haj, an engineer at Fort Bliss.

The base is taking other steps too. The Soldier Family Assistance Center has windows that let in natural light while keeping the building warm in winter and cool in summer.

Al Haj says the building also incorporates waterless urinals, as well as light sensors that automatically shut off if someone forgets to turn off the switch.

While engineers say these are improvements that will take several years, they will eventually pay themselves off while saving energy.