Oxford High School in Oxford, Miss., has received a LEED silver rating for its environmentally friendly design and construction.
The Oxford district says the 220,000-square-foot school campus, which opened in January 2014 to more than 1,100 students, is the first high school in Mississippi to achieve LEED silver certification.
“The LEED certification demonstrates our school district’s dedication to providing the healthiest and most sustainable learning environment for its students,” says Oxford School Superintendent Brian Harvey.
School officials say the reduced energy consumption will save the district more than $6 million over the next 15 years.
Among the green design and construction features that helped Oxford High accumulate the LEED points needed for a silver rating:
- Large green spaces around the facility
- Access to public transportation
- Minimal light pollution
- 40 percent reduction in water usage compared with a similar building
- 34 percent reduction in energy usage compared with a similar building
- Diversion of construction waste from a landfill; instead, it was recycled or delivered to a salvage center
- More than 5 percent of the construction materials by cost were locally manufactured
- Low volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—which are non-off gassing—were used in all rooms.
