The United States Green Building Council named Washington D.C. the world’s first LEED for Cities Platinum city.
The certification recognizes outcomes, rather than intent, of the city leadership’s efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions, support clean energy innovation and focus on inclusive property and livability. Over the past two years, Washington D.C. has started one of the largest municipal solar projects in the country, completed the largest wind power purchase agreement entered into by an American city, launched the Sustainable DC 2.0 program, and, most recently, pledged to uphold the Paris Climate Accord, according to a statement from the USGBC.
“Washington D.C. is setting the bar for smart cities all around the world by leveraging technology and data to achieve sustainability and resiliency goals, creating healthy and safe communities where citizens can thrive,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO at USGBC, in a statement. “Mayor [Muriel] Bowser and the city are once again showing that our nation’s capital is performing at the highest levels and that its buildings, neighborhoods and communities are as sustainable as possible.”
