A new elementary school will be a lesson in itself, teaching students the importance of being environmentally friendly. It's Fayette County's first and only self sustaining school. From the solar panels to it's designated recycling areas, Wellington Elementary is head of the class when it comes to being green.

"What we really hope to embrace at Wellington is just those 21st century skills and on those in particular is stewardship and we hope that through the features in this building and tying it to their curriculum and the instruction here that kids will really get a hands on feel for what it's like to not on learn about these things but take care of their environment," says Principal Meribeth Gaines.

The school has solar lights and lots of windows so that on sunny days, the lights won't be needed. The angled ceilings capture the most sunlight.

"It's actually situated on the lot to provide the most natural lightning and everything in the building is oriented with a compass, north south east west and when you walk through the building it actually indicates those directional features," says Gaines.

Not a drop of rain that falls on this building will be wasted. The water from the roof is caught in these catching basins and is drained down to a storage tank where it is filtered and used for the school.

"We have permeable pavers which are out in the front two parking lots and they sort of look like cobblestone but all of the rainwater will be absorbed down through those," says Gaines.

The outdoor classroom, garden space, and native Kentucky building materials will make for a great lesson in protecting the earth. Wellington Elementary will open at the beginning of the school year, August 11th, and is expected to hold 500 students.