Upper Dublin High School in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, achieved LEED gold status, according to a report from the Montgomery News.
Bricks and cement from the old building were ground up and became the base of the new school, the report says. Other features that led to the certification include a white reflective roof, geothermal heating system, no volatile organic compounds in the air and restrooms that use minimal water.
LEED-certified schools are designed to save energy, water and money, the district said in the report. UDHS earned enough credits in five key areas of human and environmental health to qualify for gold certification after being previously certified as silver five years ago.
School Board Member Joseph Chmielewski credited Gilbert Architects and D’Huy Engineering with helping the school go from silver to gold certification, the report says.
If solar energy becomes more affordable, the high school could possibly supply all its own energy in the future, achieving platinum status, Chmielewski said to the Montgomery News.