Rating: EPA Energy Star --Level: Energy Star Certified
Rating: U.S. Green Building Council LEED-NC, v.2/v.2.1--Level: Platinum (57 points)
Home on the Range is an office building shared by two nonprofit organizations: Northern Plains Resource Council and Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC). Formerly an uninsulated concrete block grocery store with few windows, the building was renovated to house energy-efficient, daylit offices. Northern Plains organizes Montana citizens to protect the region's water quality, family farms and ranches, and unique quality of life. Northern Plains is a member of WORC, which is a regional network of seven grassroots community organizations.
Environmental Aspects
Home on the Range uses 79% less energy than a comparable new office building built to ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1999. The building envelope was renovated to include windows and lightshelves for daylighting as well as extra insulation for energy performance. Energy-efficient lighting was used throughout the building. Evaporative cooling and radiant floor heating systems use less energy than conventional systems, and a 9.9-kilowatt photovoltaic array provides more than 45% of the building's electricity. A solar thermal system provides domestic hot water.
Through the use of a waterless urinal and composting toilets, the building uses 60% less water than a comparable building constructed to code. All stormwater is treated on site: permeable paving made of pulverized glass allows stormwater infiltration and bioswales handle any remaining runoff.
The building uses environmentally friendly materials throughout, including salvaged and recycled-content materials as well as lumber certified to Forest Stewardship Council standards. During construction, 92% of all construction and demolition waste was diverted from the landfill through reuse of materials, salvage, recycling, and composting.
Owner & Occupancy
Owned and occupied by Northern Plains Resource Council, Corporation, nonprofit
Typically occupied by 25 people, 40 hours per person per week; and 20 visitors per week, 2 hours per visitor per week
