ELKHART — The library at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary is expected to receive a big honor any day now, the first gold standard LEED certified building in Northern Indiana.

In other words, the first major building constructed here using the highest standards of green construction.

AMBS President, Nelson Kraybill, said it fit the mission of the seminary.

"How can we build a library that doesn't care for the environment, and have that be part of what we teach our students and what we model for ourselves?"

But going green wasn't the original plan.

"I had some sleepless nights over it," said Eileen Saner, the head librarian.

Saner said the capitol campaign was already under way when she decided to urge the administration to go green.

"We were almost going to have to go back to square one and start over again," said Saner.

To Saner's surprise the administration liked her idea.

"They saw the advantage of doing this and said ‘Let's do it.’"

AMBS hired a consultant with LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and got to work.

DJ Construction President Doug Wogoman said the project had a big learning curve.

"Initially there was a lot of concern from subcontractors and suppliers in terms of what LEED meant to them," he said

The LEED Rating System uses a point system to rate how environmentally friendly the building is. That is based on water efficiency, materials and resources, sustainable sites, and indoor environmental quality.

The AMBS Library is hoping to gain a gold standard, the second best rating.

Some of the features in the library include energy efficient lighting which dim or brighten based on the natural light, interface carpet, triple pane windows, geothermal ground source heat pump and rain gardens to treat runoff.

Costs up front are higher, but in the end there is a savings.

"The cost of the geothermal wells is probably $300,000-$400,000, and consulting for it, but in terms of our energy savings it will pay for that in less than 10 years," said Ron Ringenberg, the vice president for advancement and administration.

And everyone involved gets something more, the feeling that the library is giving a little back to the environment, instead of just taking from it.

"Buildings have a big impact on the environment, and I'm glad to have the legacy of this building," said Saner.

For DJ Construction, Doug Wogoman says the building now serves as a model for contractors whose clients also want to take the green route.

"I'm very proud of the project, and the client being willing to take the risk of doing something that's been done for the first time."