New Trier High School's recent Winnetka Campus East Side Academic and Athletic Project, which was completed in August 2023, has been awarded LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council, the second-highest level of achievement possible. The West Side Facilities Project, which was completed during the summer of 2017, was also awarded LEED Gold.
In a letter to the district, Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council and Green Business Certification Inc., stated the certification identifies New Trier as a "showcase example of sustainability and demonstrates [its] leadership in transforming the building industry."
LEED measures dozens of indicators in seven categories related to the building construction, systems, and the environment, and New Trier's final outcome was higher than the originally projected level of Bronze. The project achieved gold certification under the LEED 2009 Schools rating system with a total of 63 points, as indicated in the LEED Scorecard. Examples of some of the sustainable features in the new building include water use reduction, on-site renewable energy, light pollution reduction, and innovation in design. The building also features two green roofs with functioning patio areas, which offer practical benefits including vegetation that reduces air pollution, energy conservation, and extended roof life.
Beyond this work, New Trier has improved energy efficiency at both campuses through construction and implemented other initiatives to reduce its environmental impact and model that behavior for students, such as composting in the cafeterias. These efforts have been supported by an Environmental Committee that includes staff, students, parents and community members and meets quarterly.
