The Lenawee ISD was recently notified that the LISD Center for a Sustainable Future has been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The LISD Center for a Sustainable Future is the first net-zero energy, LEED Platinum certified, K-12 school in the state of Michigan. The building consists of three classrooms/laboratories, one large meeting room, and a greenhouse. It is an 8,750 square foot, state of the art facility constructed on 75 acres of agricultural land located in Adrian Township, Lenawee County, Michigan.
The LEED rating system is the foremost program for buildings, homes, and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated for improved environmental performance. The LISD Center for a Sustainable Future joins over 44,000 worldwide building projects that have either achieved certification or are pursuing such. “Buildings are a prime example of how human systems integrate with natural systems,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO, and Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The LISD Center for a Sustainable Future efficiently uses our natural resources and makes an immediate, positive impact on our planet, which will tremendously benefit future generations.”
LEED Platinum is the highest of the four certification levels (Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Certified), and requires that the project achieve a higher number of points on the project’s scorecard than any of the other certification levels.
The LISD Center for a Sustainable Future achieved LEED certification for implementing measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor air quality. Specific solutions unique to the school include:
- 68 kW photovoltaic generation system consisting of both ground and roof-mounted solar panels, which provide all of the building’s energy needs
- Geothermal heating and cooling system
- Significantly enhanced building envelope, including a vegetated (green) roof and earthbermed wall
- Rainwater collection and reuse for site/greenhouse irrigation and toilet fixtures
- Building performance interface system with real-time monitoring
- Day lighting strategies
- Demand-control ventilation
Each school day, students of all ages are provided with hands-on learning opportunities through product development, demonstration, and active research. The campus will support knowledge growth and skill development in the rapidly growing fields of sustainable agriculture and alternative energy production. LEED certification and the process by which the facility became certified provides students another valuable learning opportunity that would not otherwise have been available to them.
Additionally, students are being introduced to sustainability concepts relevant to their LISD TECH Center programs: building healthy soil, conserving and protecting water, preserving biodiversity and food security, protecting human health and the environment, producing bio fuels, and producing food year round. Students are also encouraged to think critically about these options, carefully balancing potential benefits with disadvantages.
The architect for the LISD Center for a Sustainable Future is The Collaborative, Inc., of Toledo, Ohio. CMTA Consulting Engineers of Louisville, Kentucky, provided the engineering services. Clark Construction Company of Lansing, Michigan performed construction management.
To find out more about the LISD Center for a Sustainable Future, please visit the campus website or contact Ann Hinsdale-Knisel, Community Relations Coordinator by email or call