The new Pingree Grove Police Facility, which opened in 2008 in the Village of Pingree Grove, Ill., has recently received LEED silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Designed by the Elgin, Ill., office of PSA-Dewberry/BCA, an architectural and engineering firm, the facility is a 10,000-sq-ft, single-story building that includes personnel offices, classrooms, evidence and arms storage, staff showers and lockers, conference and interview rooms, a processing area and holding facilities. Its design includes room for up to 20,000 sq ft of expansion.

Sustainable design highlights include landscaping that does not require permanent irrigation systems. Solar and wind energy provide green power equal to 70% of the building’s total annual electrical energy usage through a two-year renewable energy contract. Round-the-clock operations in the facility are projected save 23% of energy cost, because of an energy-efficient mechanical system.

The building’s exterior and interior lighting fixtures reduce light pollution and save energy by automatically switching on or off when a person enters or leaves a room. The facility also features charging stations with electrical plugs to recharge hybrid police vehicles. Low-flow sinks and dual-flush toilets were chosen to reduce water usage by about 30%.

About 80 tons of site-generated construction waste was diverted from landfills.