The facility’s LEED Platinum features include low-flow water fixtures and a captured water system to collect rain water for washing fire engines and flushing toilets, reducing potable water consumption by 83 percent. The design also includes a solar water heater to offset at least 7.5 percent of total building energy costs, high-efficiency heat pumps, occupancy light sensors, and an energy-efficient roof.

Also included is a permanent recycling area for paper, plastic, cardboard, and other household items that will enhance the building’s sustainable life cycle, along with bicycle storage areas and facilities for low-emission, fuel-efficient vehicles.

Another successful “green” project is the $15.6 million Moody dormitory facility, built by Savannah District at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Completed in February 2010, the project was just awarded Gold certification by the Green Building Certification Institute.

At 46,791 square feet, the 120-person facility serves unaccompanied enlisted airmen, each of whom has a private room, including a walk-in closet and a bathroom. All four suitemates share a common area furnished with couches, a TV, and a complete dining area.

One of the largest energy-efficient features of both projects is the geothermal ground water heating and air conditioning system. It operates at a significantly lower cost than traditional gas, oil, or electric-based installations, because heat is pumped from water deep in the earth. Since water is denser than air, more heat can be pulled from water with less energy. In the summer, the process is reversed. The system draws excess heat from inside the building, and the underground piping carries the heat deep into the ground for the earth to absorb.

Additionally, the designs of both projects incorporate recycled building materials, such as wood doors, carpet and wall tiles, recycled structural steel, and metal roofing. Local suppliers provided most of the materials, reducing the amount of energy to transport them and adding a boost to the local economy.

LEED features on Savannah District military construction projects range from solar collection panels and geothermal heat pumps to high-efficiency fixtures and advanced indoor air ventilation systems. Other common LEED features include use of recycled building materials, natural landscaping and rainwater storage tanks, reflective roofs, low-odor paints and carpets, and eco-friendly lighting and mechanical systems.

More and more, these projects are becoming the norm both for USACE and the Department of the Army as the focus moves toward achieving sustainability.

“The Army’s commitment [to sustainability] is important to our nation, because we’re helping to transform the industry just by virtue of our demand for sustainable design and construction,” Milton said.

This article first appeared in the 2011-2012 edition of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Building Strong®, Serving the Nation and the Armed Forces publication.