DOD, federal government, and the private sector, in-
cluding international sources. The research also eval-
uated sustainable design metrics currently in use. The
findings explored several terms and definitions de-
scribing sustainable development and included poli-
cies and resources encompassing two main themes,
energy and environment. Findings also recommended
the development of Army sustainable design metrics.
The first draft of an Army green rating tool, Sus-
tainable Installations Rating Tool (SIRT), evolved
from this research in 2000. Later that year this tool
was refined to focus on vertical construction, the end
result being the draft Sustainable Project Rating Tool
(SPRT) Version 1.2 in August 2000. The research also
recommended ways for DOD to obtain and maintain
sustainable facilities and infrastructure.
Army Implements a Green Building Rating Tool
Among the many national and international or-
ganizations exploring, developing, and/or applying
sustainability or green building metrics, USGBC’s
approach to sustainability was rapidly gaining rec-
ognition during the time that CERL was developing
the Sustainable Project Rating Tool for the Army.
Founded in 1993, the USGBC published its first LEED
Green Building Rating System, Version 1.0 in January
1999 and had published a first update, LEED for New
Construction (LEED-NC 2.0) by March 2000. Head-
quarters USACE and ACSIM sponsors were familiar
with LEED 1.0 but were not satisfied with its potential
as an Army green building rating tool. It wasn’t un-
til the USGBC published LEED-NC 2.0 that the Army
gained interest in using LEED to promote sustainabil-
ity in the design and construction of all new facilities