Eastport Elementary School Wins Gold Certification For Going Green

EASTPORT, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - A new Long Island school has been given the gold stamp of environmental excellence.

Eastport's newest elementary school, the Tuttle Avenue School, is equipped with electronic sensors that control the brightness of lights in balance with natural light.

As WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported, the school also has an extremely energy-efficient heating system.

"Five geothermal wells that go down 160 feet, bringing up hot water. That hot water is used to heat the building as well as used for irrigation," Eastport-South Manor Central School District superintendent Mark Nocero told Xirinachs.

The 60,000 square foot school is also outfitted with solar panels.

It has been awarded a gold-certified LEED rating. Education officials said they believe this is the first school in New York State to earn the designation.

The $26 million school opens in March and is being touted as a national model for environmental excellence, Xirinachs reported.

The school was slated to open in Sept., but construction was delayed because of superstorm Sandy.

The state covered 95 percent of the cost to build the school.

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