December 4, 2018
Office of Public Information
For Immediate Release
MARET Center Awarded LEED Platinum for Building Design
Neosho, MO – The Missouri Alternative and Renewable Energy Technology Center at Crowder College was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum status by the U.S. Green Building Council.
After decades of success in alternative energy designs and contest, Crowder College designed and built a working lab environment for classroom learning.
“The MARET Center being recognized as a LEED Platinum building is no surprise. There are numerous features of the building and its design that create a unique space that is environmentally friendly. The entire building is a hands-on lab for our students. They are able to maintain solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems. They learn from the building’s solar passive design. Our students maintain the wind turbines that surround the MARET Center. The state-of-the-art facility is a great place for students to learn and we are excited to celebrate this milestone for Crowder College,” stated Dr. Melissa Oates, Director of MARET Center.
Design of the facility was completed by the architect firm of Kromm, Rikimaru & Johansen, St. Louis, with JE Dunn Construction, Kansas City, as the Construction Manager.
Crowder was awarded a patent in December 2016 for the Bi-Field Solar Geothermal System which incorporates hot and cold running water from and to the geothermal system and the solar panels to increase the efficiency of both the HVAC system and the solar panels. In 2017, the center was renamed the Roy Blunt Center for Missouri Alternative and Renewable Energy Technology because of the federal grants that Congressman Blunt helped secure to build the innovative space.
Scoring 53 points out of a possible 69 points allowed the building to earn LEED Platinum. Points earned were in the following categories: Sustainable Sites, 9; Water Efficiency, 4; Energy and Atmosphere, 17; Material and Resources, 5; Indoor Environmental Quality, 13; and Innovation, 5.
Last Updated on December 4, 2018 by Cindy
