A new judicial centre in Rockingham County has been given gold LEED standard accreditation and replaces the former courthouse built in 1911.
The energy efficient building includes detention space for up to 300 people and a sheriff's office on top of the new courthouse, reports GoDanRiver.
As a state-of-the-art facility it caters to the needs of both minimum and maximum security detainees.
Features of the new building include plenty of insulation to cut down on heating bills and an efficient water system.
It has been reported that when the accountants calculated the water usage it was so low they believed they had carried out their sums wrong.
Special effort was made in order to make sure the materials and labour for the project were all locally sourced, with carpet, wood and windows all brought from nearby.
Buildings which are accredited by LEED are put in one of four categories, ranging from certified, through silver and gold with those judged to be the most sustainable falling into the platinum bracket.