PowerSwitch

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/06 ... nistan.php

'The 20-billion dollar energy bill for cooling US troop tents in Afghanistan and Iraq each year seems ridiculous until you consider that the R-value of a tent wall is zero and that the fuel for running power generators is imported over goat paths. The Pentagon has figured out how to shave 92% off the energy bill by spraying polyurethane foam on the tents; but, the Majors and Generals are not so fond of it'.

Jon

Shurely the R-value of a tent is the same as that for a glass window: U = 6, because of the thin layer of air trapped near the surfaces?

The R value will be 1/5.7 = 0.175, which is nearly zero. A U value of 5.7 is the minimum possible for any material as it represents, as Candy says, the insulation value of the air trapped at the surface of the material.

Old friend of mine is a AC engineer working for the Nato forces in Asscrackistan. Last year he made £75K tax free.

The US and British armies are both looking at ways of reducing their energy usage as it has a great affect on both costs and logistical backup requirements. Both are aware of PO as well and the possibility of it constraining their activities. I know one of the British officers who wrote a paper for the MOD on the subject.