Baltimore charter school receives LEED Platinum certification

Green Street Academy, a charter school in West Baltimore, was certified under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system as Platinum, a report by The Baltimore Sun says. This is the highest ranking achievable under the U.S. Green Building Council’s certification system.

The 111,000-square-foot facility diverted 84 percent of its construction waste from landfills, according to the LEED website, and used more than 40 percent of recycled materials in its construction, the report says. Other environmentally friendly features include reflective roofs and preferred parking for fuel efficient vehicles and carpools. The facility uses water-efficient landscaping, the report says, among other water and energy reduction features.

According to the report, the school plans to make sustainable additions, such as habitat conservation meadows, a global outdoor classroom and an interactive aquaponics center.

"Green Street Academy receiving the highest possible designation for sustainable construction in the renovation of a Baltimore landmark is yet another example of the school putting its mission of creating a more sustainable, future-focused way of educating students into action,"  Dan Schochor, Green Street Academy’s executive director, told The Baltimore Sun.