The first business school to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design platinum rating is… Ithaca College. More specifically, the Dorothy D. and Roy H. Park Center for Sustainable Enterprise is the newest American building to achieve the highest green building standard. 

The building makes use of passive solar energy through its large amount of windows and southern orientation. A green roof helps keep the building cool and efficient landscape planning helps minimize water needs while keeping plants vibrantly green. Rainwater is captured and used for cooling the building.

In addition, half of the building’s energy needs are powered by renewable energy.
The College reports that students are excited to learn in the new building, which features state-of-the-art classrooms and one loaded with real-time stock exchange trading technology. If you have to wrestle with statistics while sitting inside a building, you might as well be in one that feels like you're outside in the sunshine.

Since the business building has proven to be such an all-around success, Ithaca is considering making new buildings LEED gold or platinum as well. Dean Susan West Engelkemeyer noted that the school's plans and green implementation successes are “all extremely exciting, not only for the environmental and economic aspects, but for the happiness of the people.” Indeed.

Image -- Ithaca College