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Lejeune takes home Corps' first energy, environmental design award

Cpl. Jessica L. Martinez, Marine Corps Base

The world is changing and slowly people are beginning to realize the importance of protecting and preserving the environment, and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is demonstrating that concern.

Recently, the base received the United States Marine Corps' first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver certification for the building of SR-72, Reserve Training Center and Tank Maintenance Facility in the Greater Sandy Run area.

In June, Company F, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division moved into the building. The facility supports not only 56 Marines within the company, but nine M1 A1 Abrams tanks and an M-88 Recovery Vehicle.

“Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a rating system for recognizing and certifying facilities,” said Navy Lt. Nate Overtree, assistant public works officer for energy programs aboard the base. “LEED uses a point-scale based on sustainable design, construction and operations of facilities. The rating system is established and regulated by a non-profit organization identified as the United States Green Building Council. The idea of 'sustainability' in a building is that it will minimize the impact to the environment in the way it is placed on a site, the materials used to construct it, and the energy and water usage during occupancy.”

Over the last year, the Department of Navy released a new policy in regards to all new construction and major renovations conducted on Marine Corps installations. These memorandums from the assistant secretary of the Navy Installations and Environment and the commandant of the Marine Corps require that new facilities, at the least, must meet the LEED Silver certification. There are four ratings within the LEED point system: certified, silver, gold and platinum.

“(Camp Lejeune) is the first to complete this,” said Overtree. “It's been expensive and challenging, but it's the best building and the most environmental friendly. This is a very high achievement for Lejeune.”

The benefit of these “green” buildings include, lower energy and water costs, lower waste disposal, lower environmental emissions costs, increased productivity from workers, reduced impacts on the local environment, return on investment primarily generated through energy conservation and lower operations and maintenance costs, said Overtree.

During the building of the facility, several issues are taken into consideration to meet the requirements and increase the points toward the LEED certification, such as sustainability, water efficiency, materials and resources used, indoor environmental air quality and the innovation and design process.

“A lot of good people made this happen, and I think it's great,” said Col. Richard P. Flatau Jr., commanding officer for Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. “It puts us in the leading position to lead by example. It helps make real, something we often talk about. We hear all about LEED and the different levels, and hear about it as though it's something of the future and now it's here. We've proven it can be done. Hopefully that raises the bar for our own staff in planning, but also for the contractors that compete for construction jobs here, now they know it's doable. It really is an honor to be the first base with a LEED Silver facility…once again Camp Lejeune is out in front.”