<i>Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.</i> -- Fort Hood is improving the quality of life of Soldiers and families living on the installation through environmental planning.
As the Army transitions to the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system for military construction, Fort Hood is incorporating LEED criteria into the Comprehensive Army Master Planning System (CAMPS). CAMPS is an interactive, web-based tool that assists in decision making and builds efficiencies into everyday planning to create and maintain a sustainable installation.
Fort Hood plans to be the first Army installation to build and certify a LEED Silver-level building under the statutory limit of $750,000 following the release of the Army requirements. The data collected from the LEED building will be analyzed and compared to conventional buildings constructed on Fort Hood and highlight the importance of building "green."
"Fort Hood is demonstrating that a base can focus on the long term environmental sustainability of its facilities while enhancing their suitability for the Soldiers, civilians, families and neighbors, and reducing potential pollution impacts from its daily activities," explained Thomas W. Easterly, Commissioner, Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
Buildings that meet LEED sustainable construction standards typically consume 30 percent less energy and use 20 percent less water than the average. LEED buildings also must comply with American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 62.1-2004, designed to improve ventilation for indoor air quality, and therefore human health and productivity.
LEED construction efforts are part of the installation's Environmental Management System (EMS) which focuses on air quality, energy management, pollution prevention and water quality. Fort Hood's EMS determined that these environmental quality aspects most affect the mission and quality of life of the installation's Soldiers and other inhabitants.
Through its Environmental Management System, Fort Hood is also making strides in Waste Reduction. By analyzing waste streams throughout the installation, Fort Hood implemented reuse and recycle initiatives that saved 3 million gallons of water and recycled 1 million gallons of hazardous waste.
Although the environmental team is responsible for environmental compliance, everyone at Fort Hood has a responsibility to the Army's environmental program. Formal training sessions and briefings were given to Soldiers, Families, civilians, and contractors ensuring environmental awareness across the installation, and helping to reduce the overall environmental impact.
The environmental team at Fort Hood is diligent in ensuring that new and returning personnel are educated and updated on the environmental requirements of their organizations, and that all community members have the opportunity to learn about and practice sound environmental stewardship.
Serving the needs of more than 240,000 people, Fort Hood is making environmental responsibility fun. Community-wide events such as Earth Day, Science Day and Texas Recycles Day help educate hundreds of families each year.
For their efforts waste reduction, public awareness, and green building, Fort Hood will receive the Army's highest honor in environmental stewardship -- the Secretary of the Army Environmental Award for environmental quality. The award will be presented to the installation at the Fort Hood 2008 Earth Day Spectacular event on April 22 at Hood Stadium.
<i>This information is provided by the <a href="http://aec.army.mil">U.S. Army Environmental Command</a>. USAEC is the Army's point organization for supporting the implementation of environmental programs that facilitate sustainable Army training and operations while protecting the environment. We provide environmental program management and technical support products and services in support of Army training operations, acquisition and sound stewardship.</i>
<center>"Sustaining the Environment for a Secure Future"</center>
Related Links:
U.S. Army Environmental Command
Environmental Update: New Buildings Must Follow 'Green' Construction Standard
Fort Hood Directorate of Public Works
U.S. Green Building Council LEED rating system (non DoD site)
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