LEED is a third-party certification program that provides a widely accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance projects. LEED promotes a multidisciplinary approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. The goals of LEED projects include minimizing required operational energy (and carbon); utilizing natural resources (i.e., day lighting and passive solar); site integration with habitat and natural hydrology; and reduction of dangerous finishes and building materials in order to provide a safe, efficient, and ultimately superior built environment. Site-wide sustainability measures include native landscape restoration from seeds gathered on this site, pervious pathways, solar powered signage, full cutoff photo-controlled light fixtures on motion detectors, and recycled material in site furnishings.
All new and improved facilities would adhere to LEED Platinum standards, as funding allows. The following key principles and features will be used to achieve LEED standards:
Sustainable materials and building systems would be an integral part of the design.
The new facilities will include both passive solar construction and sustainable design technologies. The two will be integrated to achieve maximum energy savings and decreased system size.
Architectural features such as solar siting, deep overhangs, operable exterior shutters, thermal mass, and strategic window placement will provide climateresponsive buildings.
A well-designed geo-exchange cooling system will help provide cooling required by buildings.
Exterior lighting shall be low wattage compact fluorescent or LED luminaries controlled by photocell, motion sensor, or local switch as appropriate. The relay panels will be networked together with a data cable to allow lighting on individual buildings, or all buildings, to be turned on or off from a central location. This will allow the site to be easily blacked out for dark sky events, or turn on all lights for security purposes.