A Greener Future
Goodpaster Hall is the first "green" building at St. Mary's College of Maryland and has received a Silver rating from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ - the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. The State of Maryland has selected Goodpaster Hall as one of two "fully green" buildings for a pilot project.
What is a Green Building?
A green building is designed and built to significantly reduce or eliminate negative impacts on the environment through energy efficiency, the use of recycled or renewable building materials, and a reduction of the building's impact on the surrounding land and water.
A Sustainable Building
- Storm-water runoff will be significantly reduced, and the roof runoff will be routed to fill a courtyard fountain. (Over the past decade, College capital projects have decreased the amount of storm water that reaches the watershed by 50%.)
- The building will save 300,000 gallons of water annually -- a 30% reduction in water use and sewage output -- through use of waterless urinals, dual-flush toilets, and rain-water and gray-water systems which recycle water from sinks for flushing.
- The building will use 30% to 40% less energy than the average building, thanks to the design and use of the newest and most highly efficient equipment.
- About 75% of the building materials are made with recycled content, including structural steel, drywall, ceilings, carpeting, tile, and laboratory counters.
- The lumber used in the building has been harvested from environmentally managed forests.
- Only low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints, adhesives, and sealants were used in construction.