EVEN THE MILITARY IS GOING GREEN THESE DAYS. THE AIR FORCE RECENTLY USED YOUR TAX DOLLARS TO EMBRACE SOLAR TECHNOLOGY. ERIN SHRYOCK HAS MORE IN TONIGHT'S TEXOMA GREEN REPORT.
Around the world the Air Force has turned to the sun and turned off the lights. Dyess Air Force Base in West Texas is a prime example.  "What we were trying to do was to add lighting to the hangers. In order to elevate the lighting levels, that is going to waste more energy by putting in more electricity in. So what we said is, if we day lite these as well, we could turn lights off during the day" says Tom Denslow, Dyess AFB Energy Manager. Solar panels were the perfect solution. Air force specs called for panels designed to collect the maximum amount of light. So when the sun goes down mechanics aren't left in the dark. And the air force is able to keep 'em flyin'. "These units here take in the light and concentrate it into the round squares or rectangle. And then it goes through another lense that actually columizes it and brings it down to the floor. So by the time it gets to the floor, it stays tight until it gets down and then spreads." Other Air Force Bases around the world are also integrating solar technologies like day lighting. The methods are costly to install. But so far they've saved the service 200-thousand dollars a year. That's a big deal when your annual electric bill is five billion dollars.
IN THE EVENT OF A CLOUDY OR RAINY DAY, A BACKUP ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS IN PLACE. I'M ERIN SHRYOCK AND THAT'S TEXOMA GREEN BACK TO YOU.