The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), creators of the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) green building program, with support from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, announced a new grant program designed to recognize the sustainability and green building achievements of U.S. cities pursuing LEED for Cities certification. Initial grant recipients include San Jose, Calif.; Denver, Colo.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Atlanta, Ga.; Washington, D.C.; and Chicago, Ill. Each grant will consist of financial assistance to aid in the pursuit of LEED for Cities certification, educational resources and customized technical support.
LEED for Cities enables local governments to measure and track citywide performance by focusing on outcomes, rather than intent. Cities are evaluated across 14 key metrics, including energy, water, waste, transportation, education, health, safety and equitability. Washington, D.C., and Phoenix, Ariz., are the first cities to achieve certification through the program and earned LEED Platinum, the highest level of certification.