South Charlotte Today

City of Charlotte issued the following announcement on Sept. 29.

Charlotte announced today that it has achieved LEED for Cities and Communities Gold certification.  LEED or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, was created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is the world's most widely used green building rating system.

Charlotte is part of a growing group to be certified using the LEED for Cities and Communities rating system. LEED for Cities and Communities certification recognizes cities that create responsible, sustainable and specific plans for natural systems, energy, water, waste, transportation and many other factors that contribute to quality of life.

"As a city that embraces the importance of an equitable and sustainable future, we recognize the value of protecting our environment," said Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. "This recognition as a LEED Gold certified city means we really are setting the example for a low-carbon and resilient future, while increasing the quality of life for Charlotte residents.

Charlotte achieved LEED for Cities Gold certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at improving sustainability and the standard of living for residents. Notable initiatives include:

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management
• Fare Free Transit during COVID
• Temporary Outdoor Dining
• Water Efficiency
• Resilience Planning: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hazard Mitigation Plan

To help achieve LEED for Cities certification, the city participated in the 2020 LEED for Cities Local Government Leadership Program. The program helps local governments committed to reducing climate change and advancing resilience and social equity by measuring and tracking performance using the LEED for Cities rating system. As a funder of the program and a global company headquartered in Charlotte, Bank of America is a proud supporter of the city and its efforts in making Charlotte a leader in sustainability.

"Addressing climate change and the demands on Earth's natural resources is a top priority for our company," said President of Bank of America Charlotte Kieth Cockrell. "Currently, 24% of our U.S. real estate portfolio is LEED-certified and our goal is to achieve 40% by 2030. Since 2017, we've contributed more than $1.75 million to support USGBC's Local Government Leadership Program, which has helped 56 cities and counties in their pursuit of LEED certification. It's incredibly meaningful to us to see our headquarters city achieve this certification."

Charlotte joins a global network of nearly 130 certified cities and communities.

Original source can be found here.