GREENSBURG, United States — Last May, a lethal F-5 tornado decimated about 95 percent of this small town west of Wichita.

With the bulk of its landscape destroyed, the city decided to rebuild using green principles. Greensburg made history last month when it became the first city in the U.S. to mandate all city buildings greater than 4,000 square feet be certified LEED Platinum and use about 40 percent less energy than their conventional counterparts.

Under the plan, 10 commercial and public buildings have agreed to LEED certification. The state of Kansas previously had only six LEED-certified buildings. According to the Associated Press, the new green buildings will include City Hall and a gift shop and tourist center.

"By committing to a recovery plan based on green building, the community's leadership has set a path that will result in a healthier, more livable city for its citizens, turning a crisis into an opportunity that is an example for us all," said Rick Fedrizzi, president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reported the groundbreaking of a green K-12 school is scheduled for May. A biodiesel plant is slated for construction on the southern end of the town.