The first LEED certified medical facility in Minnesota, Duluth’s First Street Clinic, uses 32% less energy than a code-compliant building of the same size. The Weidt Group provided Energy Design Assistance, including energy modeling for LEED, modeling every design decision to develop integrated strategies to reach energy and performance goals.

The building was designed to maximize daylight, thereby reducing energy usage from artificial lighting. Daylight sensors control the artificial lighting, and the use of compact florescent lighting also saves energy. In addition, St. Mary’s purchased two years of renewable energy in order to reduce emissions and their impact on global warming.

Verification of the energy-saving strategies was provided by The Weidt Group, and each of the systems was commissioned while the contractors were on site to verify the systems function as intended. Other strategies incorporated into the project by the design team include:

• Low emitting materials, finishes, adhesives, and sealants to improve indoor air quality
• Over 5,300 tons of construction waste (63% of total) was recycled rather than sent to local landfills
• Use of water-efficient landscaping materials and systems, incorporated into a healing garden