Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Tri-State area

QUINCY, ILL. -- The newest Chaddock cottage has been recognized with one of the highest possible LEED certifications.

Officials have awarded the Gene Simon Family Cottage with a Gold LEED certification.

According to Chaddock, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verifi cation that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

The 7,655 square foot Gene Simon Family Cottage opened to students in June.  The facility was designed and built to house nine children at Chaddock, while being environmentally friendly

According to Chaddock, "The cottage was designed by Hellmuth + Bicknese Architects of St. Louis, Missouri, who ensured that energy effi cient and environmental features were incorporated throughout the building. With guidance from Hellmuth + Bicknese, practices that contributed to the environmental performance were realized on the project site, as well as on the building itself."

The Gene Simon Family Cottage earned LEED Gold certification because of a number of qualities including:

-  Extra thick walls that contribute to the building’s efficiency by using 30% less energy than is required by the Illinois Energy Code

-  An eco-friendly overhanging roof and “cool rated” shingles to reduce energy consumption 

-  A low E coating on windows which gives them a 30% higher R-value than typical thermal pane windows

-  Native Illinois plants, chosen to thrive with minimal care and augment outdoor spaces including the Rocks and Ropes pocket playground

-  Rain gardens that capture and treat rainwater to decrease water runoff and improve water quality 

-  Green building products such as Low VOC paints and Natural Linoleum Flooring

Chaddock specializes in residential treatment for children who have experienced severe abuse, neglect, or other trauma in their early years of development.