2. Affordable and Clean Energy
The Aullwood Farm Discovery Center is designated as a Green Building, having achieved a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification at the GOLD Level.
Energy Conservation:
The occupancy sensors (automatic lights) conserve energy since lights are on only when the space is occupied. The smart sensor tracks the occupant’s patterns, reflecting the user’s needs, extending the bulb’s life.
Porches provide energy savings benefits without compromising comfort and visibility. Porches reduce the amount of sunlight that radiates through windows, decreasing cooling costs and improving overall efficiency. Porches allow sunlight in during the winter, improving heating efficiencies.
Energy Efficient:
Ceiling tectum panels are made from sustainable domestic renewable raw materials and provide a high insulation rating as well as good acoustics.
The center is well-insulated with ratings of R30 – R19 and the windows are energy efficient. The insulation is made from 20% recycled materials and uses no formaldehyde.
The center’s building orientation and window placement make maximum use of daylight for illumination.
Renewable Energy:
The photovoltaic panels on the south facing roof return 20 amps of power back into the system. The monitored system is a great educational tool.
18 geothermal wells, each dug to a depth of 350 feet, offer a constant temperature from the earth to provide efficient heating for the winter and cooling in the summer. This minimizes the center’s dependence on fossil fuels.

4. Clean Water and Sanitation
Rain run-off from the parking lot is diverted to a rain garden that is surrounded with a variety of water-loving native plants.
Water run-off from the parking lot flows into a detention pond and is diverted into pastures. Native prairie grasses surround this area.
The permeable concrete parking lot allows water to permeate through instead of running off. Concrete was poured over 10” of compacted stone.
Waterless urinals, dual flush toilets, sensor water taps and other new technologies minimize water usage.
Specially designed pavers improve rainwater drainage with less flooding and erosion
Healthy Air:
The stained concrete floors reflect the patchwork of fields, forests, and waterways as seen from an airplane. The concrete improves indoor air quality by emitting low VOC (volatile organic compounds) that could be irritating or harmful to occupants.
Waste Diverted from Landfills:
95.88% of the construction materials for the Farm Discovery Center were diverted from landfills.

6. Responsible Consumption and Production
Native Plants and Locally Grown Food:
All the trees and wildflowers around the Farm Discovery Center are native to this area and attract native birds and butterflies/insects
Aullwood’s farm meats- chicken, turkey, beef, pork, and lamb- are sustainably raised and may be purchased in the Farm Discovery Center
Recycled Materials:
22% of the Farm Discovery Center’s building materials are made from recycled products.
The entry desk’s TorZo countertop is made from compacted sunflower hulls and is made from 70%+ recycled materials
The porch furniture and picnic tables are constructed with “wood” made from recycled plastic and wood fiber.
The standing seam metal roof is made from 75% recycled materials.
Recycled entry tire mats contain 90% recycled materials
The cork flooring in the preschool is comfortable for children and is made from 18% recycled materials
The corrugated metal on the interior walls is made from 23% recycled materials.
Reused Materials and New Growth Timber:
When the original Thomas Education Building was demolished, the 100+ year old barn siding that was inside was reused and installed in the Farm Discovery Center.
The pine siding on the interior walls was harvested from new growth trees that reach maturity in years.
39% of the center building materials are manufactured, harvested, or extracted within 500 miles of the construction site.
Sustainable Materials:
Fiber-cement siding covers the Center’s exterior. It is made from sustainable fiber material, incorporating natural ingredients that are low in toxicity. This product saves trees, does not attract boring insects and retains paint longer than wood.
The linoleum floors in the kitchen and restrooms are made from natural/sustainable materials. Linoleum is asthma and allergy friendly