As the green school movement gains steam, more states around the country are funding school building projects in the hopes of getting LEED certified. Add West Virginia to the growing list of LEED hopefuls with the impending construction of the state’s first green public school in Berkeley County. The West Virginia School Building Authority (SBA) has commissioned $11 million for the project and is prepared to authorize more if needed.

Sources close to the project expect significant energy savings from the new building. In addition, potential eco-friendly features include automated water faucets and a special heating and cooling system that uses subterranean temperatures to minimize costs. Educators plan to use these features as an educational tool to promote eco-awareness among students. Overall, it looks like an interesting development in a region not always known for cutting-edge architecture, and on a national level, it’ll be interesting to see whether this new school and other buildings around the country seeking LEED certification can stay the course and attain true sustainability.

(Photo via Morguefile)