South Broward News

The City of Fort Lauderdale has achieved the LEED for Cities Gold certification as designated by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Fort Lauderdale is the first city in Broward County to be certified through this rating system, joining a network of more than 125 certified local governments around the world.

“The City of Fort Lauderdale is proud to be one of few cities in Florida to earn the LEED Gold certification. We have long made infrastructure and resiliency a commission priority by investing in projects that improve the quality of life for our neighbors and visitors. We will continue this progress into the future,” said Mayor Dean Trantalis.

The LEED for Cities system provides a road map to help jurisdictions evaluate and track progress on economic, environmental and social conditions. Certification helps local governments achieve meaningful results such as attracting new economic activity, reaching global climate goals, improving air and water quality, and enhancing quality of life for all. To achieve LEED for Cities Gold level certification, Fort Lauderdale earned more than 60 points across nine categories.

Highlights from Fort Lauderdale’s evaluation include:

• All 10 points in the Innovation and Regional Priorities categories for various efforts across the city which include: providing a food forest, protecting sea turtles, working to end homelessness, implementing nature-based solutions for sargassum seaweed challenges, simplifying access to solar energy, and collaborating with regional partners to secure a reliable water source.
• A high score in Natural Systems and Ecology for ample access to green and natural spaces in our community along with integrating resilience strategies into all aspects of City plans, operations and organizational culture.
• A high score in the Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions category for consistently reducing the intensity of carbon emissions citywide despite serving a growing total daily population of more than 300,000.
• Points in the Quality of Life category such as education attainment, environmental justice and civil and human rights.
• Transportation and Land Use category highlights include diverse transportation modes and the City’s work to preserve historic and archaeological sites.

“This certification against an international standard validates the actions the City of Fort Lauderdale is taking to build a sustainable and resilient community,” said Dr. Nancy Gassman, the City’s Assistant Director of Public Works

“The work of cities and communities such as Fort Lauderdale is a driving force in ensuring a more sustainable future for all,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO of USGBC. “Cities that achieve LEED certification are lowering carbon emissions, creating a healthier environment, and striving to improve the quality of life for their residents. Fort Lauderdale is setting a standard for what it means to be a high performer and their efforts and achievements should be an example for all.”

Original source can be found here.