Northeastern Junior College (NJC) announced Wednesday, Nov. 19, that it has been awarded LEED Gold on their new Applied Technology Campus building. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. Through design, construction and operations practices that improve environmental and human health, LEED-certified buildings are helping to make the world more sustainable.
President Mike White expressed his excitement about the award stating, “We were so excited to receive the Gold LEED rating for the new Applied Technology Campus building, and especially fitting since we teach renewable energy there! This is a true reflection of the cooperation between the NJC team, the designers, and builders of the facility. We are proud to have such a remarkable facility for our students.”
NJC achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Green buildings allow companies to operate more sustainably and give the people inside them a healthier, more comfortable space to work.
The new NJC Applied Technology Campus is designed to achieve LEED Gold certification through a comprehensive set of sustainability strategies that reflect the college’s commitment to innovation, environmental responsibility, and hands-on renewable energy education. The facility features optimized building orientation, native landscaping, and low-impact site development, alongside high-efficiency water fixtures and xeriscaping to significantly reduce water use. Energy performance is maximized with on-site solar generation, high-performance mechanical systems, LED lighting with daylight harvesting, and a tightly sealed, well-insulated building envelope. Indoor environmental quality is enhanced with advanced ventilation, abundant natural light, and acoustic design that supports effective learning. As a key innovation element, the building itself serves as a teaching tool, integrating real-time energy dashboards, renewable energy labs, and curriculum connections that allow students to engage directly with the sustainable systems powering their campus.
“LEED certification is the ultimate recognition of global green building leadership, signaling that a space has undergone rigorous third-party verification and meets the highest green building standards,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC. “The success of LEED is due to the partnership and support of those committed to advancing green building and sustainability. Each new LEED certification brings us one step closer to revolutionizing the spaces where we live, learn, work and play.”
Certification is proof that buildings are going above and beyond to ensure the space is constructed and operated to the highest level of sustainability. More than 111,857 commercial and institutional projects are currently participating in LEED, comprising more than 2 million certified square feet per day of construction space in all 50 states and more than 186 countries and territories.
About Northeastern Junior College (NJC)
Northeastern Junior College (NJC), founded in 1941 in Sterling, Colorado, is a vibrant residential college where Liberal Arts, Agriculture, and cutting-edge Career and Technical Education come together to power student success. As one of the 13 Community Colleges of Colorado, NJC serves nearly 3,500 students through more than 60 dynamic certificate and degree options, including seamless transfer pathways to all four-year public institutions. With campuses in Sterling and Yuma, NJC delivers hands-on, industry-driven learning led by passionate full-time faculty who also mentor students as advisors. Five residence halls, spirited athletics, dynamic performing arts, and a full range of student services create an immersive, close-knit college experience that draws students from across Colorado, the nation, and around the world.
About the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to transforming how buildings and communities are designed, built and operated to create thriving, healthy, equitable and resilient places that advance human and environmental wellbeing. USGBC leads market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, an international network of local community leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on X (formerly Twitter).