As energy efficiency becomes more important and maintenance and engineering managers continue to find ways to reach their sustainability goals, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is helping in every way it can.
Together with Bank of America, the USGBC have announced a new $500,000 grant from Bank of America. The funding supports the LEED certification of 15 U.S. cities and communities. The grant provides financial assistance, educational resources and technical support throughout the certification process. USGBC and Bank of America launched the LEED for Cities and Communities grant program with six U.S. cities in 2018, according to the USGBC.
“To realize a sustainable future for all, today’s cities and communities must strive to be green, resilient, inclusive and smart,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. “The LEED for Cities and Communities certification programs give leaders a framework for planning, designing, measuring and managing the social, economic and environmental performance of the places where they live, work, learn and play. With support from Bank of America, we will empower these grant recipients to deliver a higher living standard for their residents.”
The U.S. cities and communities that will benefit from the 2019 grants are the first to pursue LEED v4.1 certification and include:
LEED helps local governments develop and track plans for a wide variety of factors, including green infrastructure, public health, energy, social equity, transportation and more. More than 90 cities and communities globally have already been certified through the LEED for Cities and Communities programs.
Ryan Berlin is digital content manager of Facilitiesnet.com.
