I wrote in our special stadium issue that TCF Bank Stadium was up for LEED Certification. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and it is a national program certifying green buildings.

And now TCF Bank Stadium qualifies.

It was awarded LEED Silver Certification as established by the U.S. Green Building Council. The stadium qualified based on a number of design and construction features, including:

--A storm water management system that allows rain water to be captured into an underground filtering system outside the stadium. it is filtered before draining into the Mississippi River.

--Steel for the stadium is 90 percent recycled and was fabricated primarily in Minneapolis.

--Paint, carpet, sealants and adhesives were used that were low in volatile organic compounds.

--98 percent of the construction waste from the site was recycled.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the nation's leading program for the certification of green buildings.