An innovative RMI project in Wyoming was recently awarded LEED NC v2.1 Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council, thus becoming the first LEED-certifi ed project in Wyoming and 52nd project ever to be certified as Platinum.
RMI provided energy and daylighting analysis as well as comprehensive LEED coordination for the Laurance S. Rockefeller (LSR) Preserve, a 7,573-square-foot visitors’ center located in Grand Teton National Park.
RMI drove the high-performance building efforts alongside the architect and the design team during the early phases and extended that through the construction of the building by working closely with the contractor and providing education on the benefits and procedures of LEED.
“The building is a fantastic example of a truly integrated design process and how technical analysis applied early and often will produce high-performance results,” said Cara Carmichael, a Consultant with RMI’s Built Environment Team. “It is a model for Wyoming and for the Park Service as a whole.”
The Preserve uses 76,000 gallons per year less water than a typical building of the same size and function through the use of composting toilets and low-fl ow fixtures. Recycled-content materials, including structural steel, cotton-batt insulation, metal roofing, and carpet help minimize the amount of embodied energy in the structure. And more than 75 percent of the construction waste was diverted from the landfill, including the waste associated with a massive relocation effort for 30 buildings on the site. Also, at least 20 percent of all materials and products used were manufactured within a 500-mile radius of the project site. A ground-source heat pump, a 10-kilowatt photovoltaic system, Heat Mirror windows, a 0.8-watt-persquare- foot lighting power density, and occupant lighting controls all contribute to an 84 percent reduction in regulated building energy costs.
