Chicago Mayor Announces All New Public Buildings to Be LEED Certified
Mayor Richard M. Daley has announced that the city’s newly constructed public buildings will be LEED Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Mayor Richard M. Daley has announced that the city’s newly constructed public buildings will be LEED Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the USGBC, will assist the City of Chicago with their efforts to conserve energy, reduce costs and ensure healthier indoor environments.
The Mayor, at the American Institute of Architects’ national convention made the announcement that Chicago will strive to be the most environmentally friendly city in the United States.
“We are excited that Chicago, as a center of modern architecture and a major urban hub, also represents an in-practice example that greening strategies do work,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President & CEO, U.S. Green Building Council. “We applaud Mayor Daley and the City of Chicago for their exemplary commitment to green building and look forward to more cities following their leadership. The USGBC also congratulates the commitment of the Chicago Chapter of the USGBC in helping to further promote green initiatives.”
As a credit to the city’s commitment to green, the Chicago Center for Green Technology has also received a Platinum rating -- the highest LEED rating -- from the USGBC. The project was built on a former brownfield site with recycled materials and includes a rooftop garden, rainwater cisterns and smart lighting systems. The building uses the earth’s temperature to heat and cool itself.
Mayor Daley hopes that with these green building strategies put into place for public buildings, it will influence the private sector to adopt many of the same practices. Daley also stated that by ensuring all new construction and major renovation projects become LEED Certified, it will serve to save the tax payer money.
The Mayor, at the American Institute of Architects’ national convention made the announcement that Chicago will strive to be the most environmentally friendly city in the United States.
“We are excited that Chicago, as a center of modern architecture and a major urban hub, also represents an in-practice example that greening strategies do work,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President & CEO, U.S. Green Building Council. “We applaud Mayor Daley and the City of Chicago for their exemplary commitment to green building and look forward to more cities following their leadership. The USGBC also congratulates the commitment of the Chicago Chapter of the USGBC in helping to further promote green initiatives.”
As a credit to the city’s commitment to green, the Chicago Center for Green Technology has also received a Platinum rating -- the highest LEED rating -- from the USGBC. The project was built on a former brownfield site with recycled materials and includes a rooftop garden, rainwater cisterns and smart lighting systems. The building uses the earth’s temperature to heat and cool itself.
Mayor Daley hopes that with these green building strategies put into place for public buildings, it will influence the private sector to adopt many of the same practices. Daley also stated that by ensuring all new construction and major renovation projects become LEED Certified, it will serve to save the tax payer money.
