Home on the Range - one of the most efficient buildings in the world

In a brief but enthusiastic ceremony on September 21, Billings, Montana, became the official home of one of the most efficient buildings in the world.

Northern Plains’ Chair Mark Fix and WORC Chair Donley Darnell in front of the LEED Plaque on September 21, 2007.

The Billings headquarters of the Northern Plains Resource Council and the Western Organization of Resource Councils received its certification as a LEED Platinum building. LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,” and the “Platinum” designation is the highest honor awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. This building, called “Home on the Range,” is only the 41st building in America, and the 45th in the world, to receive the Platinum designation.

Dr. Kath Williams of Bozeman presented the award at the ceremony last week. Dr. Williams is the past president of the World Green Building Council, and former vice president of the U.S. Green Building Council. She told the crowd, “I don’t think you realize how important this really is. LEED Platinum is really, really difficult. That’s why there are only 45 buildings in the world that are LEED Platinum.”

She described how other Platinum buildings attract visitors from around the world. She also lauded the two groups for achieving the award with local designers and builders, and the help of “ordinary, hard-working Montana people”.

Northern Plains Chair Mark Fix, a Miles City rancher, and WORC Chair Donley Darnell, a Newcastle, Wyoming, rancher accepted the award on behalf of the two groups. Billings Mayor Ron Tussing congratulated the organizations, and saluted them with his own version of the song “Home on the Range.”

The building was renovated from a long-empty grocery store and meat locker on Billings’ south side, and now showcases a variety of strategies to conserve energy and natural resources. Home on the Range uses just 21% of the energy consumed by a comparably sized conventional office building that is built to code.

Tours of the building are offered for free to interested persons by calling Northern Plains at (406) 248-1154 in advance.