Ranger station receives LEED award

Jon Price, Contracting Officer Representative, and Terry Baker, McKenzie River District Ranger, in the general meeting room of the Ranger District

MCKENZIE BRIDGE: The McKenzie River Ranger Station has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is a program that provides a third party verification of green buildings and rates them on a scale from Certified, Silver, Gold to Platinum. The Ranger Station scored 59 points, one point below Gold.

“We are very proud to have a certified green building,” said Terry Baker, McKenzie River District Ranger. “Not only is it energy efficient, but it is composed of Northwest products, built by Northwest labor.”

One of the many requirements the McKenzie River Ranger District had to meet in order to achieve a LEED certification was locating building materials and products manufactured within 500 miles of the project site. This presented a challenge due to the rural location of the site. Large exposed log columns seen throughout the structure were harvested from the McKenzie River District and a local builder used tight grained Douglas-fir that had originated from within walking distance of the district office to trim the windows and doors. The windows themselves were purchase from a company from Bend.

The wood panels from the old office were recycled and incorporated into the new District office conference room as a beautiful wainscot. Nearly 90% of all construction waste was recycled.

Some of the other criteria to earn LEED points in the design and construction of the Ranger Station include:

• Light absorbing roof shingles and remote controlled clerestory windows throughout the office, providing 75% of all occupied space with natural sunlight. Occupancy sensors for mechanical and lighting also reduces energy consumption. The facilities energy use is monitored by computer equipment that trends and logs energy consumption.

• Low volatile organic compound (VOCs) emitting paints, adhesives, sealants and flooring were used throughout the building. The McKenzie River Ranger District also continues “green” cleaning practices by using environmentally safe products.

• Parking spaces for low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicles for employees and visitors along with bicycle storage and changing facilities have been incorporated into the project.

• A highly efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) for long term energy savings along with low flow plumbing fixtures that reduce overall water use by approximately 30%.

• Native landscaping, which eliminated the need for a permanent irrigation system.