Tour set of "green" forest office in Alamogordo
ALAMOGORDO, NEW MEXICO - The Lincoln National Forest is opening its new offices to the public to showcase the energy-efficient "green" building.
The Lincoln National Forest Supervisor's Office and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center and their 85 employees moved into the facility in October. The forest offices had been in an old Alamogordo post office since 1961.
The new 19,900-square-foot structure features large conference rooms, exhibit space and expanded parking, as well as building techniques and equipment that require less energy and water.
Among other things, it has 110 solar panels installed on the roof producing 15 percent of the facility's electrical power, and uses xeriscaping and drought-resistant plants to save water.
Green buildings are designed to meet such objectives as protecting the health of occupants; using energy, water and other resources more efficiently; and reducing the overall impact on the environment.
"We must all be environmentally and socially responsible," said Lincoln Supervisor Jacque Buchanan. "One way of showing that is in the long term, this green facility will save the U.S. Forest Service money over the many years of use."
Related News

COVID-19 closures: It's as if Ottawa has fallen off the electricity grid
OTTAWA - It’s as if the COVID-19 epidemic had tripped a circuit breaker, shutting off all power to a city the size of Ottawa.
Virus-induced restrictions that have shut down large swaths of normal commercial life across Canada has led to a noticeable drop in demand for power in Ontario, insiders said on Friday.
Terry Young, vice-president with the Independent Electricity System Operator, said planning was underway for further declines in usage, given the delicate balance that needs to be maintained between supply and demand.
“We’re now seeing demand that is running about 1,000 to 2,000 megawatts less than we would normally see,”…