Students and parents got a sneak peek at the new Hilltop Montessori School &8220;Green School&8221; under construction in Mt Laurel on Friday.

The school is being built by Johnson Kreis Construction and incorporates LEED certified practices and techniques that foster sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, and indoor environmental quality.

According to Johnson Kreis Construction, the school, which was designed by architects Fred Keith and Bill Segrest of HKW Architects, includes a total building area of 19,132 square feet and will hold about 175 students.

Ross Land Design created the landscaping under the direction of Jane Reed Ross and Leann McKnally.

LEED stands for the Leadership In Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System, a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high performance, sustainable buildings.

According to Johnson Kreis Construction, Hilltop Montessori School will be one of the first schools built in Alabama with such heavy emphasis on LEED certification.

Bill Segrest led the parents and youngsters on of tour of the school from the outside last Friday.

&8220;What makes the school green is we&8217;re saving a lot of trees,&8221; Segrest said. He also pointed out recycling bins all over the school grounds to keep the construction site clean and to help make use of recyclable materials elsewhere.

He told the youngsters to take note of a birdhouse built into the upper side of the school. He said he has been told birds are already making use of their new home and that birds eat bugs.

Segrest also noted that windows facing north allow for light, and along with air conditioning, will not allow heat to build up.

&8220;It&8217;s going to be a really cool, cost efficient building to go to school in,&8221; he told the youngsters.

Segrest also pointed out that every classroom would have a door to the outside.

Nancy Patterson has two children who will attend the school, Grace, age 4, and Holden, age 2.

She said of the Green School, &8220;It&8217;s wonderful.&8221; She said both her children have asthma and the Green School will not make use of any harsh chemicals and will have a state-of-the-art ventilation system.&8221;

Bill Kreis, vice president of Johnson Kreis, and Segrest confirmed the ventilation system and the avoidance of any harsh chemicals.

Segrest said the school would be flushed with a high-grade filter before students ever enter the building. And in addition to high quality filters, the system can completely exchange the air in the school with air from the outside.

Leah Fox, age 11, said of the new school, &8220;I think it&8217;s really awesome. It

have save electricity and preserve the environment.&8221;

The new school will be completed in October