The North Carolina Botanical Garden’s Education Center aspires to be a LEED Platinum building—the highest designation of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System. Planning began in 2000 and on April 12, 2007 a “ground watering” ceremony marked the beginning of construction. 
The Education Center will employ an extensive array of green features, listed below. In addition to green technologies, the building will include open breezeways, natural light in every room and educational exhibits to inform visitors of green features.
Green technologies include:
- Photovoltaic panels: capture solar energy and generate 20% or more of the power used in the building; solar assisted gas fired water heaters for domestic hot water
- Geothermal wells: circulate water through underground pipes to use constant underground temperatures to cool in the summer and warm in the winter; no use of antifreeze, which could contaminate groundwater and is less efficient. Use of high temperature solar heated fluid to drive the phase change in the absorption chiller
- Rainwater cisterns: stone cisterns near the corners of the building will collect rainwater from roofs; this water will be stored and used to irrigate gardens during dry periods. Also, solar powered pumps will be used to power the irrigation system
- Reclaimed wastewater: toilets will flush with reclaimed wastewater from the OWASA reclamation and reuse system
- Stormwater ponds: ponds will retain rainwater, which will slow down the water to let it filter through vegetation; this method will remove pollutants from runoff and retain most of the water on site
- Daylighting: use of clerestory windows: these windows will provide natural light throughout the building; they will be orientated to allow direct light to enter in winter and shade the building in the summer.
- Daylight monitors: automatic lighting controls and occupancy sensors will be used to respond to available daylight and reduce the use of electric lighting
- Under floor air distribution: improves indoor air quality
- Reused C&D waste: a retaining wall will be built using concrete from recently demolished Nash Hall
The Garden has pledged that construction materials will come from within a 500-mile radius—to reduce the generation of carbon dioxide through transportation and to support local economies. No wood from old growth forests will be used, and all materials used will be low volatile organic compound (VOC) emitters. Furthermore, at least 75% of the construction waste will be recycled. The plan also supports pedestrian, bike, and public transportation access to the new Center.