FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas-- Three-hundred employees from the Central Region headquarters of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command celebrated their organization day here Oct. 20 with no impact on the environment.
"The Army is leading the Net Zero initiative," said Randy Robinson, director of the central region, "and the Central Region is at the forefront of the effort."
The Army's Net Zero strategy is to reduce energy, water demand, and waste generation on all Army installations, Robinson said.
For the organization day, Central Region public works and environmental divisions coordinated closely with the organization day planning committee to reach the Net Zero goal.
A solar panel powered the microphones and disk jockey equipment. Purified rain water was served in 100 percent biodegradable bottles, and all plates, cutlery, cups and napkins were biodegradable, as well. At the end of the celebration, all waste was collected and sent to composting.
The accomplishment demonstrated to the region, and the rest of the Army, that a Net Zero goal is easily attainable, even for a crowd of more than 300 in a celebration lasting four hours, according to Robinson.
Nine garrisons in the Central Region have Net Zero initiatives. Camp Parks, Calif., is working towards a Net Zero energy goal. Fort Riley, Kan., is seeking Net Zero water goals. Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Polk, La., are working to become Net Zero solid waste installations.
Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., has both energy and waste Net Zero initiatives, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., is working toward Net Zero goals in water and waste.
Two installations, Fort Bliss, Texas, and Fort Carson, Colo., will practice conservation strategies in all three categories.
"Net Zero is a force multiplier," Robinson explained. "It enables us to be good stewards of available resources, manage costs, and provide our Soldiers, Families and Civilians with a sustainable future."
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