Not long ago, Bellemonte Farms in Augusta County had been vacant (for 10 years) and was slated to become a landfill. Today, thanks to Mike and Michelle Sandy, it’s soon to be the first dairy in the country to earn a LEED certification—an acronym for “leadership in energy and environmental design,” the zenith in sustainable architecture.

     “The idea came out of a place of dissatisfaction with dairies that didn’t care about their environment or communities,” says Michelle, who previously managed organic dairy farms up and down the East Coast. “I just knew there was a way to make a dairy energy-efficient.” 

     Her solution? Eco-friendly features such as radiant-heat floors in the milking room, electricity powered by wind energy, and super-efficient insulation and machinery. Segars Engineering of Waynesboro handled the construction, and LEED certification should be completed by September. Also included will be an education center where children will be able to observe milk production and learn about sustainable living and farming. “Ultimately, we want the farm to be user-friendly,” says Michelle. “We want it to be open to the community’s children as a place to learn.” —Elizabeth Mehring