FARMINGTON — Two newly-constructed "green" buildings at University of Maine at Farmington have received official LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the United States Green Building Council.

The Education Center that houses the UMF College of Education, Health and Rehabilitation and Frances Allen Black Hall, a student residence building, offer financially viable alternatives to traditional building methods.

According to a press release, the buildings represent the University's commitment to environmental stewardship and to graduating responsible global citizens who care about the environment. They have also saved 70 percent in annual energy costs compared to a structure of similar size built with traditional building methods in the 1970s.

LEED certification is a process that provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest, green building and performance measures. There are four levels of certification: platinum, gold, silver and certified.

UMF's $8.8 million Education Center received LEED "silver" certification and was designed to serve as an ecological teaching tool for UMF students, for students in grades kindergarten to 12, for practicing teachers and the region.