DOD Should Give More Consideration to Passive Solar Systems for New Military Family Housing
EMD-82-74
Published: May 17, 1982. Publicly Released: May 17, 1982.
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Highlights
Since 1979, the Department of Defense (DOD) has been required to consider using solar energy systems in all new units constructed under its military family housing construction program. GAO conducted a review to determine the extent to which DOD was considering the use of such systems for new military family housing.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should establish a policy requiring the military services to consider, evaluate, and install passive solar systems when economical. DOD should also develop, with assistance from DOE, guidance for the services to implement this policy. The guidance should identify which passive solar features should be considered, and under what circumstances or conditions, such as location and type of conventional fuel displaced, these features are likely to be economical. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should analyze information from DOE ongoing and completed passive solar projects to determine the economics of passive solar features using the life-cycle costing criteria DOD must use in its military family housing program. The Secretary of Energy should also provide the results of these analyses to DOD and assist in developing appropriate guidance for using passive solar energy in military family housing. The results should be in sufficient detail to determine the conditions and extent to which the different passive solar features are likely to be economical. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
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Topics
Energy suppliesFuel conservationHousing constructionLife cycle costsMilitary housingProgram evaluationSolar energyMilitary forcesMilitary family housingAgency evaluations