U.S. Military spends $20 billion dollars a year on air conditioning

Link

The U.S. military spends $20.2 billion every year just to keep air conditioning running in its facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.National Public Radiopoints out that this amount is "more than NASA's budget. It's more than BP has paid so far for damage during the Gulf oil spill. It's what the G-8 has pledged to help foster new democracies in Egypt and Tunisia." Not only does the U.S. spend a lot to cool the troops, it risks a lot as well. Steven Anderson, David Patreaus's former chief logistician explained on All Things Considered that "to power an air conditioner at a remote outpost in land-locked Afghanistan, a gallon of fuel has to be shipped into Karachi, Pakistan, then driven 800 miles over 18 days to Afghanistan on roads that are sometimes little more than 'improved goat trails.'" He estimates that "more than 1,000 troops have died in fuel convoys, which remain prime targets for attack."

I don't know whether to be apalled at the amount of spending or be indifferent because they're fighting in extreme heat.

I question how much of that 20B actually makes it to air conditioning....

WHo cares....If they don't use the money for a selfish need, they'll use it for a nefarious one...

Could you imagine what U.S. would be like now if we never elected bush and didn't go to Iraq?

WHo cares....If they don't use the money for a selfish need, they'll use it for a nefarious one...

jerk-o-tron2000

AC is a big morale boost.

Could you imagine what U.S. would be like now if we never elected bush and didn't go to Iraq?

Blue-Sky

It'd be about the same.

When you fight in the sandbox, then you can complain about how much our AC bill is.

Try walking around in 120 degree heat with a hot-air dryer blowing in your face constantly.

While that sucks the extreme heat can really **** people up.NoobisMaxcimus

and yet millions of Iraqis and Afghanis deal with it every year.

I can understand why people feel the need for AC, but c'mon just deal with the heat.

[QUOTE="NoobisMaxcimus"]While that sucks the extreme heat can really **** people up.mrbojangles25

and yet millions of Iraqis and Afghanis deal with it every year.

I can understand why people feel the need for AC, but c'mon just deal with the heat.

Do you have AC in your home?

and yet millions of Iraqis and Afghanis deal with it every year.

mrbojangles25

And some of them don't, because they have AC. What point are you making here?

that sounds about right i probably spend at least $500 a year.

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

[QUOTE="NoobisMaxcimus"]While that sucks the extreme heat can really **** people up.m0zart

and yet millions of Iraqis and Afghanis deal with it every year.

I can understand why people feel the need for AC, but c'mon just deal with the heat.

Do you have AC in your home?

nope, never have I had AC

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

and yet millions of Iraqis and Afghanis deal with it every year.

Palantas

And some of them don't, because they have AC. What point are you making here?

my point is that maybe our soldiers could manage without it too?

and yes, I failed to consider the fact that they often go on marches for miles on end with 30+ pounds of gear, in less than ideal uniforms for the given climate. my mistake.

even then, surely there are better ways to stay cool.

[QUOTE="Palantas"]

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

and yet millions of Iraqis and Afghanis deal with it every year.

mrbojangles25

And some of them don't, because they have AC. What point are you making here?

my point is that maybe our soldiers could manage without it too?

and yes, I failed to consider the fact that they often go on marches for miles on end with 30+ pounds of gear, in less than ideal uniforms for the given climate. my mistake.

even then, surely there are better ways to stay cool.

30+ lbs? Body armor doesn't even weigh that much...

Try standing in 120+ degree heat in full battle rattle. Have fun.

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

[QUOTE="Palantas"]

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

and yet millions of Iraqis and Afghanis deal with it every year.

SpartanMSU

And some of them don't, because they have AC. What point are you making here?

my point is that maybe our soldiers could manage without it too?

and yes, I failed to consider the fact that they often go on marches for miles on end with 30+ pounds of gear, in less than ideal uniforms for the given climate. my mistake.

even then, surely there are better ways to stay cool.

30+ lbs? Body armor doesn't even weigh that much...

Try standing in 120+ degree heat in full battle rattle. Have fun.

A well packed Ruck will push you over 30lbs easily during marches.

nope, never have I had ACmrbojangles25

Well I live in Texas... in one of the hotest and most humid cities in the State... and I will NOT go without A/C. I can't ask soldiers to go without it either, especially given that they aren't just going from A/C to A/C as I do.

It's a huge expense, but it's part of the price of military operations in an extremely hot climate. Complaining about that is almost equivalent to complaining about heating costs of Government facilities in Antarctica. Perhaps if we don't want to spend this kind of money, we should consider the importance of the military operations that necessitate it, to determine if the cost is really worth it. But if we do insist on a military operation, it's not acceptable to put the kind ofheat on soldiers that we would never be able to bear ourselves at the same activity level.

my point is that maybe our soldiers could manage without it too?

and yes, I failed to consider the fact that they often go on marches for miles on end with 30+ pounds of gear, in less than ideal uniforms for the given climate. my mistake.

even then, surely there are better ways to stay cool.

mrbojangles25

A lot of times we actually do have to go without it. I've been on several missions where I was out in 110 degree heat while wearing a helmet, a heavy vest, and carrying a rifle; you can't carry an AC with you on a patrol. Considering that, it was a relief for me to get back on base and have AC waiting for me. A lot more troops would be passing out of heat injuries without it, we're humans just like you. I didn't even have that luxury during the initial invasion when it went into the 90s and we had no AC at all. 20 Billion dollars sounds like alot but the country spends way more than that every year on welfare alone.

[QUOTE="Palantas"]

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

and yet millions of Iraqis and Afghanis deal with it every year.

mrbojangles25

And some of them don't, because they have AC. What point are you making here?

my point is that maybe our soldiers could manage without it too?

and yes, I failed to consider the fact that they often go on marches for miles on end with 30+ pounds of gear, in less than ideal uniforms for the given climate. my mistake.

even then, surely there are better ways to stay cool.

heat stroke is the real deal people. learn the symptoms and treat it immediately if you suspect heat stroke.

http://www.earth-policy.org/plan_b_updates/2003/update29

here are a few recent short term events that claimed lots of lives.

Several of the worst heat waves of the twentieth century occurred in U.S. cities. In 1955, an eight-day run of temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Los Angeles left 946 people dead. In 1972, New York City suffered a two-week heat wave that claimed 891 lives. More recently, an extreme heat wave in Chicago in 1995 killed 739 people in a matter of days. Slow political recognition of the threat and an overloaded response system worsened the effects of the weather anomaly.

my point is that maybe our soldiers could manage without it too?

mrbojangles25

They could. Doesn't mean they should. Aside from this...

Perhaps if we don't want to spend this kind of money, we should consider the importance of the military operations that necessitate it, to determine if the cost is really worth it.

m0zart

...if you are going to try and cut costs in a military operation, I think you can find better things to cut than something that makes soldiers happier and more comfortable.

[QUOTE="SpartanMSU"]

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

my point is that maybe our soldiers could manage without it too?

and yes, I failed to consider the fact that they often go on marches for miles on end with 30+ pounds of gear, in less than ideal uniforms for the given climate. my mistake.

even then, surely there are better ways to stay cool.

Foamybrian

30+ lbs? Body armor doesn't even weigh that much...

Try standing in 120+ degree heat in full battle rattle. Have fun.

A well packed Ruck will push you over 30lbs easily during marches.

Oh, it'll be much, much heavier than 30lbs. Try carrying a 81mm mortar baseplate along with a fully packed ruck. Not fun.

Seems like an awful waste of money. Would probably be cheaper to just give each soldier one of those mini handheld fans :P

Seems like an awful waste of money. Would probably be cheaper to just give each soldier one of those mini handheld fans :P

redstorm72

[QUOTE="redstorm72"]

Seems like an awful waste of money. Would probably be cheaper to just give each soldier one of those mini handheld fans :P

BuryMe

Buy rechargable batteries. It's a one time cost. Check and mate good sir.

[QUOTE="BuryMe"]

[QUOTE="redstorm72"]

Seems like an awful waste of money. Would probably be cheaper to just give each soldier one of those mini handheld fans :P

redstorm72

Buy rechargable batteries. It's a one time cost. Check and mate good sir.

And even rechargeable batteries don't last forever.

Then you have to figure out the cost of recharging, distributing, and maintaining those batteries. The world isn't as simple as you seem to think it is.thegerg

I didn't think he was being serious.

[QUOTE="redstorm72"]

[QUOTE="BuryMe"]You forgot to factor in the cost of batteries...

thegerg

Buy rechargable batteries. It's a one time cost. Check and mate good sir.

You guys realize I'm not being serious right? I doubt handheld mini-fans are really an effective way for a large military deployment in the desert to stay cool :P

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

my point is that maybe our soldiers could manage without it too?

and yes, I failed to consider the fact that they often go on marches for miles on end with 30+ pounds of gear, in less than ideal uniforms for the given climate. my mistake.

even then, surely there are better ways to stay cool.

ad1x2

A lot of times we actually do have to go without it. I've been on several missions where I was out in 110 degree heat while wearing a helmet, a heavy vest, and carrying a rifle; you can't carry an AC with you on a patrol. Considering that, it was a relief for me to get back on base and have AC waiting for me. A lot more troops would be passing out of heat injuries without it, we're humans just like you. I didn't even have that luxury during the initial invasion when it went into the 90s and we had no AC at all. 20 Billion dollars sounds like alot but the country spends way more than that every year on welfare alone.

I stand corrected, and I apologize. Thank you for being less douchy about it then the rest of OT, though :P

[QUOTE="thegerg"][QUOTE="redstorm72"]

Buy rechargable batteries. It's a one time cost. Check and mate good sir.

redstorm72

You guys realize I'm not being serious right? I doubt handheld mini-fans are really an effective way for a large military deployment in the desert to stay cool :P

not if theyre those spray bottle ones; those things are nice. Mist yourself and then fan yourself, sooooo refreshing. 5 dollars a pop, too! Way cheaper than 20 billion

I stand corrected, and I apologize. Thank you for being less douchy about it then the rest of OT, though :P mrbojangles25

Just trying to keep you feeling fresh.

we sure its all going to ac? if it is i am fine with it weezyfb

When the temperature goes over a hundred degrees on a regular basis the AC is bound to break down frequently. Part of that cost goes towars materials to repair the AC as well as paying civilian contractors who are there on call to repair them.

That's a lot of expense, but considering those areas it gets rather hot for most people.

For me I love extremely hot weather so I'd never use the AC :).

Those numbers...don't really seem to add up. ACs aren't that expensive.Ace6301

Seems high to me too, though accounting was not my military specialty.

Now, try to keep up with me people, what if, the USA actually stopped fighting such a ridiculous war?luisen123

I don't know. Are you limited to just asking questions that are out of the scope of the topic at hand, or can you actually answer any of them?

I don't know. Are you limited to just asking questions that are out of the scope of the topic at hand, or can you actually answer any of them?Palantas

sorry but, i fail to see the problem

you have any idea how hot it is over there? If i were stuck in the middle of a +110 degree desert, id want an ionic breeze or something in every room too.