Prindle Institute is First Indiana Building Certified 'Gold' by US Green Building Council

May 22, 2008

May 22, 2008, Greencastle, Ind. - DePauw University's Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics "has become the first (building) in Indiana to earn a gold rating for energy efficiency and environmental design from the U.S. Green Building Council," reports the Indianapolis Star. Constructed by Shiel Sexton Co., the building "was built from local limestone and locally harvested trees. It includes a courtyard and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems. It's one of 11 certified energy-efficient buildings built by the Indianapolis contractor."

Located in the DePauw University Nature Park, the Prindle Institute was dedicated last fall. It has received LEED-NC (New Construction) Gold 2.2 certification. The building was designed to minimize impact on the environment. Among its environmentally features: the building's white roof reflects the sun and thereby reduces demand for air conditioning. Awnings serve to admit the winter sun (low in the sky) for passive heating, and to shade the building from the summer sun (higher in the sky), also minimizing energy requirements. Rooms are equipped with motion sensors which automatically turn off lighting in unused areas.

The U.S. Green Building Council is a not-for-profit organization. Its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest green building and performance measures.

"DePauw's commitment to environmentally responsible practices runs very deep, and we are very pleased to receive this external validation of our efforts," says Neal B. Abraham, executive vice president of the University. "From the very first discussions, the Prindle Institute was designed with an eye on making it a model for structures of the future. To be the first building in the state to receive a gold LEED designation is wonderful."

The Bartlett Reflection Center, which will be constructed near the Prindle Institute, has also been designed to obtain LEED certification.

Access the item at IndyStar.com.

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