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 rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
