Our Green LEED Building
Footprint and Site Selection
- What: A footprint is the shape of the building that touches the ground. Our Green LEED building uses an existing footprint. We replaced an old, unstable building with a new building in the same shape.
- Why: By reusing an existing building site, our expansion does not add to urban sprawl or pave over any open land and redevelops an unused space.
- Be Green At Home: When cities (such as Springfield) continue to build more new buildings rather than reusing existing spaces, it is called urban sprawl. Can you find examples of urban sprawl in your neighborhood?
Local and Regional Building Materials
- What: Contractors bought as many building materials as possible for this building from local or regional businesses. Materials that came from less than 500 miles away include concrete, steel, base rock, brick, concrete block, and windows.
- Why: Buying locally produced goods means less energy was used to get the materials to our building site. Local businesses were also supported.
- Be Green At Home: You can buy goods (such as food) or services (such as bike repair) from local businesses. Buying locally reduces energy use, pollution, and expenses related to transporting goods, and helps local businesses succeed. What have you bought from a local business recently?
- What: A green roof is a building surface that has plant life growing on it. Different kinds of native plants that adapt well to shallow soil grow on our roof.
- Why: Green Roofs conserve water by soaking up rainfall so it does not run into storm drains. We use rainwater collected from our upper roof to water the plants, which saves even more water.
- Be Green At Home: Make a "green roof" by creating a container garden. Plant flowers, grasses, or even vegetables in pots or buckets and place them on a deck or patio. You'll reduce rainwater runoff and have a beautiful garden!