Increasing Efficiency in the Use of Energy
As the single largest U.S. energy consumer, the Department of Defense relies heavily on petroleum-based fuel to move and sustain its forces and weapons platforms for military operations. Fuel costs can have a significant impact on the department's operating costs. The department reported that it spent $9.5 billion on mobility fuel in fiscal year 2007 and estimates that for every $10 increase in the price of a barrel of oil, operating costs increase by approximately $1.3 billion. While the department and the military services have several efforts under way to reduce demand for fuel, the department lacks elements of an overarching organizational framework to guide and oversee these efforts. These elements include (1) a single executive-level Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) official who is accountable for mobility energy matters, (2) a comprehensive strategic plan for mobility energy, and (3) an effective mechanism to provide for communication and coordination of mobility energy efforts among OSD and the military services. An overarching framework needs to be established to improve the department's ability to guide and oversee mobility energy reduction efforts, to fully incorporate fuel-efficiency consideration into key departmental business processes, to reduce its significant reliance on petroleum-based fuel, and to address the energy challenges of the 21st century.
^ Back to topKey Reports
- Defense Management: Overarching Organizational Framework Could Improve DOD's Management of Energy Reduction Efforts for Military Operations
- GAO-08-523T, March 13, 2008
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 19 pages) Accessible Text
- Defense Management: Overarching Organizational Framework Needed to Guide and Oversee Energy Reduction Efforts for Military Operations
- GAO-08-426, March 13, 2008
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 49 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
