Featured Initiatives
SERDP and ESTCP investments in science, engineering, and technology help to improve the environment and sustain military readiness. Our researchers have made many distinguished contributions to environmental science and technology. Practical application of these findings provides solutions to the complex challenges of ensuring responsible environmental management while meeting critical military missions. Learn more about our most important investments and accomplishments in climate change, sustainable range management, contaminated groundwater, munitions response, and more. For information about our complete investment portfolio, see Program Areas.
Climate Change and Impacts of Sea Level Rise
Global climate change has the potential to affect DoD installations and operations in many ways. SERDP and ESTCP have moved aggressively to address the impacts of sea level rise on critical infrastructure and to analyze the broader implications for resource management on installations.
Range Sustainment
DoD’s ranges are among its most valuable assets, supporting critical training and testing missions. SERDP and ESTCP invest in a broad range of scientific studies and technology development to enable continued use of these lands to meet DoD requirements. These efforts also allow for the sustainable management of the ranges’ natural resources in perpetuity.
Installation Energy Test Bed
As the largest single energy consumer in the nation, DoD spends about $4 billion per year on facility energy consumption. SERDP and ESTCP demonstrations of innovative technologies and methods improve energy conservation and efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy on military installations.
Cleanup Initiatives
DoD maintains responsibility for thousands of sites contaminated with chlorinated solvents, heavy metals, energetics, and other hazardous chemicals. Through a decade of investment, SERDP and ESTCP researchers have developed cost effective technologies for the remediation of contaminated soils, groundwater, and sediments.
Munitions Response Initiatives
Sites contaminated with military munitions represent a multi-billion dollar liability for DoD. Recent large-scale demonstrations have shown the potential for emerging technologies, developed over the past decade, to change in fundamental ways how munitions response can be conducted.
Green Manufacturing and Maintenance
Many DoD manufacturing and maintenance processes involve hazardous substances that can damage the environment. Years of research have resulted in alternatives to many of the most dangerous chemicals such as hexavalent chromium. A new initiative looks at alternatives to lead-based solders.
Conservation
DoD is committed to effective, efficient, and sustainable management of its installations to ensure their continued use into the foreseeable future. SERDP and ESTCP invest in developing the scientific understanding and methods needed to conserve DoD’s vast natural and cultural resources.
