05/06/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/06/2024 08:47
Most U.S. and international jurisdictions were established long before climate change, sustainability, resilience and equity became priority issues. Today, these jurisdictions-many with limited resources-are playing catch-up.
Despite thes urgency of these priority issues, there is plenty of good news. For one, public awareness is greater than ever, and many highly skilled and educated individuals are stepping up to take on climate change and related issues. What's more, President Biden's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act legislation have made a significant amount of funding available to address these diverse but interrelated challenges. Of equal importance, new tools are being introduced to help jurisdictions benchmark, plan and implement initiatives that will help them more fully prepare for the future.
One of the most comprehensive and effective tools available today is USGBC's LEED for Cities and Communities rating system. LEED for Cities and Communities was created to help jurisdictions of all sizes realize a more resilient, sustainable and equitable future.
The rating system is built around seven core categories. These core categories They include frameworks for measuring and managing integrative, community-wide planning; natural systems and ecology; transportation and land use; water efficiency; energy and GHG emissions; waste management; and quality of life.
Hilari Varnadore was instrumental in the development of the STAR Community Rating System, the nation's first framework and certification program for city-scale sustainability. Varnadore later amplified the STAR rating system's impact on the industry by working with USGBC to integrate it into the city-specific pilot of LEED for Cities and Communities. Today, hundreds of cities, towns and counties have committed to this LEED rating system, and more than 200 are registered and/or certified.
Conversation highlights:
Additional information
The following resources provide helpful information regarding cities within the LEED for Cities and Communities framework:
If you have any questions about the program and how LEED benefits cities, email us at [email protected].