Opened in August of 2006, our library is the first ground-up construction in Santa Fe to receive gold certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’s point-based rating system.  The building was designed to meet the rigorous standards required by the U.S. Green Building Council.  Virtually all of the construction waste was recycled rather than sent to landfills.  We’re capturing nearly 90,000 gallons of water a year from roof run-off to irrigate campus landscaping.  The building uses 30% less energy than a traditional building of its size.  Most of the materials used in the building came from within a 500-mile radius, promoting local enterprise and saving transportation costs and energy use.  Daylighting is usesd throughout the building--on most school days, no lights are on in the upper level.  These are but a few of the environmental aspects of our building.

Our library itself is a teaching tool, promoting the school’s commitment to sustainability and reminding us daily that institutions, like individuals, must be responsible for our use of resources.

For detailed information on the five main categories of the LEED designation (sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality), read our “Greening the New Santa Fe Prep Library.”.pdf