Grand Teton National Park Seeks LEED Certification on New Housing Units

Date: August 30, 2012
Contact: Public Affairs Office, 307.739.3431

Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott is pleased to announce that an employee housing project in Moose, Wyoming is nearing completion and on track to receive Platinum level certification in the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes program. This project provides new affordable and sustainable housing for Grand Teton National Park employees and reduces the park's impact on the limited affordable housing market in the town of Jackson.

Numerous high performance and energy saving features were incorporated into seven buildings located within the existing Moose employee housing area. Placement of 28 two-bedroom, two-bath apartments within the existing developed housing complex prevented an increase in the developed footprint and associated impacts to the viewshed and wildlife habitat. This placement also allowed the project to take advantage of existing road and utility infrastructure. 

Construction began in April of 2011 and will be completed with units ready for occupancy in October of 2012. Completion of these new units, along with other updates to the park headquarters complex at Moose, will reduce Grand Teton's greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent from 2007 emission levels. Employees will be able to walk and bicycle to work, further reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with daily commutes. The units are extremely well insulated and utilize triple pane windows. Attached garage space will prevent the need to idle vehicles during winter months. All of these benefits will further reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.  

Buildings were constructed with lumber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council A.C. (FSC). Recycled lumber was used for the interior trim, and highly durable, low maintenance finishes were incorporated throughout each unit. FSC seeks to ensure that forests meet the social, ecological, and economic rights and needs of the present generation without compromising those of future generations. Their mission is to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. 

The LEED program promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in key areas such as sustainable sites, materials and resources, locations and linkages, and energy and atmosphere. A LEED certified home is designed and constructed in accordance with the rigorous guidelines of the LEED for Homes green building certification program. LEED for Homes is a consensus-developed, third party-verified, voluntary rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes.