The LEED certification is an international standard that says the building is both environmentally and energy efficient.  The electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems for the new nursing care facility have been designed to meet the LEED standards.  Leanne Skuse is project manager for River City Construction that’s working on the Heddington Oaks facility.  She says the courtyard areas will also make use of rain-water:

“Basically they’re water fountains that are harvesting the storm water from all of the gutters and downspouts and everything and utilizing that as a water feature within the courtyard area.  So green principals we’re trying to follow along those lines.”

Skuse says River City also gets points towards LEED certification if it recycles a percentage of their building materials, and if they buy materials within 500 miles for the project. All documents on the project are then submitted to the US Green Building Council for LEED certification. Skuse says Heddington Oaks is halfway complete. The $45 million nursing home is set to open next spring.