The Gophers' new on-campus outdoor football stadium drew raves last week for just about everything -- except the long lines to get in and buy hot dogs, and the noise that boomed into neighborhoods miles away.

Now, we also learn that it's an environmentally friendly stadium, too, and is the first LEED-certified collegiate or professional football facility in the country.

The University announced that the stadium has been awarded LEED Silver Certification, established by the U.S. Green Building Counci and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute.

It was heralded for green design and construction features like:

• A storm water management system that allows rain water to be captured into a comprehensive underground system outside the stadium, where it is filtered and drained into the Mississippi River.
• Steel for the stadium is 90 percent recycled and was fabricated primarily in Minneapolis.
• A reflective roof (but no dome) to reduce the heat island effect.
• Paint, carpet, sealants and adhesives that are low in volatile organic compounds, which can aggravate health problems.
• 98 percent of the construction waste from the site was recycled.
• A 50 percent reduction in the use of potable water for landscape irrigation.
• A 30 percent reduction in indoor potable water use.