The Air Force hospital at Aviano AB, Italy, recently became the first overseas US military installation to receive the EPA’s Energy Star rating, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. “The 31st Medical Group is excited about this achievement because we put two years of hard work into reaching our goals,” said Lt. Col. John Savage who heads Aviano’s 31st Medical Support Squadron. During that time, hospital staff improved the facility’s energy performance while maintaining comfort for patients. “We started off with smaller projects like timers on lights and then focused on major projects that dramatically reduced our energy use,” said Savage. More energy-reducing projects are planned, such as improving the operating room’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. (Aviano report by 2nd Lt. Brian Wagner) (For more on USAF’s commitment to energy efficiency as well as utilizing renewable energy sources, read Looking Ahead.)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.