My dad, an avid reader of AARP, came across this story about the LEED-NC (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – New Construction) certified building at Holy Wisdom Monestary in Middleton, Wisconsin. The LEED rating system is based on points earned for completing/qualifying various levels of green building. Currently, there are 69 possible points that can be earned in the process. The more points that a project earns, the higher the certification. Here is a breakdown of the points needed to achieve each level: Certified 26–32 points;  Silver 33–38 points; Gold 39–51 points; Platinum 52–69 points (source).

As of March 2010, the Holy Wisdom Monastery had earned the most points (63 of 69) of any new construction that has been certified by the USGBC. The building has several green features. The following facts come via the monastery’s website:

• Holy Wisdom Monastery is a 30,000 square foot, two-story structure with a detached, 4,000 square foot remodeled maintenance building on 130 acres. The monastery was built to help carry out the work of the Sisters to weave prayer, hospitality, justice and care of the earth into a shared way of life.

• The original building, Benedict House, was responsibly deconstructed and 99.75% of the 60,000-square-foot building was recycled or reused.

• The building is “right-sized”, providing 50% less space than its predecessor, Benedict House.

• Andersen® windows provide daylighting to 85% of regularly occupied spaces.  Each window was customized based upon its location and orientation to the sun. This reduces glare and minimizes unwanted solar heat gain inside the building. Neither draperies nor blinds are needed in the building. Chapel windows, including those near the ceiling, are operable to expel hot air and reduce the need for air conditioning.

• Storm water runoff is reduced to 13% below pre-development levels.

• Geothermal heating and cooling system uses 39 closed-loop wells, each 300 feet deep.

• The goal is to eventually provide 100% of the monastery’s energy needs, on a net basis, from on-site, renewable sources.

The monastery, which opened in August of 2009, was constructed in a partnership with Hoffman LLC. At $246 per square foot of construction cost, “[t]his figure contains all project-related costs (except land), including the responsible deconstruction of Benedict House.” Building green does not have to cost substantially more than traditional methods. According to Reed Construction, as of 2009 a 2-4 story office building can cost up to $230 (in New York City), while other structures such as jails and courthouses can exceed $340 per square foot in the same location. The long term benefit and positive press associated with such an endeavor pay dividends beyond the original investment.

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