WE'RE RAISING $850,000 & WE'RE ALREADY TWO-THIRDS THERE!
Help conduct a detailed energy audit on our building
$25
Help install a commercial-grade EV charger on-site for public and staff use
$50
Help replace our boiler with a state-of-the-art super-efficient model!
$100
Help build our fleet of electric/hybrid staff cars for travel across Montana
$500
Help transform HOTR’s exterior with durable and recyclable steel siding
$1,000
A DECORATED PAST & BRIGHT FUTURE
Twenty years ago, Northern Plains members transformed a blighted property in Billings, Montana, into a working demonstration of green building strategies and technologies. Our “Home on the Range” is more than an office, it’s a cultural home for our members, a training ground for grassroots leaders, and a vibrant, healthy place for our staff to thrive.
This building was designed to be a leader in the space for how a commercial building should operate. In 2007, Home on the Range was the first building in Montana and the 41st in the United States to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification, the highest award given by the U.S. Green Building Council.
WE LOVE OUR BUILDING
We love our building because it is a true symbol of our values and mission. Through the years, we’ve taken the best possible care of our home. Northern Plains has expanded our solar array, transformed our gardens into a welcoming community space, replaced our roof, and even repaired a hole in our conference room wall after a vehicle crashed through! However, even the most cared-for buildings need a makeover from time to time and we find ourselves at this juncture once again.
Sustainable IMPROVEMENTS
After 20 years, our Home is in need of both some major structural upgrades and an amplification of how it reflects our values. We will continue to lead by reestablishing Home on the Range as a leader in sustainable design and technology by:
Transforming the exterior look and feel of Home on the Range. Our siding material has reached the end of its expected life and has sustained water damage over the years. This presents an opportunity to utilize durable and recyclable steel siding with a 50-year life. This will bring a vibrant new look to Home on the Range and Downtown Billings, signaling the next stage of leadership in efficient and sustainable building.
Conducting a detailed energy audit to ensure that our spaces are sealed tight and operating as efficiently as possible.
Replacement of our boiler with a state-of-the-art, super-efficient model, will reduce our natural gas consumption by 5-7%.
Our small fleet of donated, high-mileage “staff cars” are a home away from home for our staff. Our mission depends on our organizers being in person, often in Montana’s most rural places, and it takes reliable vehicles to get them there. We need to increase the safety, reliability, and fuel efficiency of our fleet to take our work to the next level. Through the purchase of five base-model electric/hybrid vehicles, we will increase our average fuel efficiency from 18 mpg to 35-40 mpg.
Installing an EV Charger on site. Many Northern Plains members have purchased electric vehicles, and by having an on-site commercial-grade charger, we can make it easier for them to recharge while in Billings. We also hope to add a few electric staff cars to our fleet. Just imagine our team of community organizers meeting with people across Montana using a vehicle powered with electricity produced right at Home on the Range!
Installing new doors. Our building has settled, causing twisting and warping of our door structures. Our new exterior envelope project provides a great opportunity to fix the structural root cause and replace the doors with new, airtight, efficient, and secure units.
In 2007, Home on the Range was the first building in Montana and the 41st in the United States to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification, the highest award given by the U.S. Green Building Council.
