Because of the Forest Service emphasis on caring for the land and serving people, requirements for environmentally responsible structures (figure 16) will continue and probably will expand. Sustainability requirements for existing building systems and structures and their operations and maintenance will probably increase. In addition, sustainable building practices may be folded into the Forest Service's environmental management system.

Figure 16—The new furniture inside the Shoal Creek District office
in Heflin, AL (Southern Region, National Forests in Alabama), was
manufactured from materials that don't emit toxic chemical gasses.
The open workstations look out through a glass wall into the forest.
The wide overhang and low-emissivity, tinted glass keeps sunlight
from overheating the building interior.

Although other sustainable building rating systems are now available, the Forest Service will continue to use the LEED system. At this time, LEED is the most widely recognized and respected sustainable building certification system. As the Forest Service continues to consider how best to assure that its structures don't adversely impact the environment, other changes in policy may be made. For instance, as sustainable building rating systems continue to mature, the Forest Service may add an option to certify buildings under Green Globes (http://www.greenglobes.com/) or another system.

LEED will introduce an updated version in January 2009. See http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1849 for more information about LEED version 3, which will include more emphasis on water use, energy efficiency, human health, and greenhouse gas emissions, and will incorporate regional credits. Future plans for LEED include incorporating life-cycle assessments. More information about life-cycle assessment is available in the "Life-Cycle Assessments Can Help You Make Sustainable Choices" section of the Forest Service publication "Life- Cycle Cost Analysis for Buildings Is Easier Than You Thought" (http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/ Username: t-d, Password: t-d).

Designing and constructing LEED buildings requires integrated effort early in the process—a big change from standard practices that have been used in the past. Designs include uncommon features, specifications include new materials and sections, more tracking and documentation is required, and buildings must be commissioned. LEED design features, registration, documentation, commissioning, and submittal may all add costs to design and construction, so it's important to use cost-effective design strategies and contractors who are experienced with integrated design methods and with LEED design and construction.

However, over the long term well-designed LEED buildings can be as cost effective as ordinary buildings (or even more cost effective). The information and tools in this report should make it easier to implement LEED in the Forest Service.