The city of Madison has raised its green building requirements for all city-owned facilities.
A new resolution requiring LEED Gold certification was passed at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
The resolution applies to all new construction projects.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally recognized green building certification system that evaluates buildings on their environmental performance. LEED-certified buildings use less energy and water, reduce waste and create better spaces for occupants.
“Madison has set ambitious climate goals, and our buildings are a critical piece of reaching those targets,” Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said in a statement. “By raising our standards for all new facilities to LEED Gold, we’re ensuring that every new city facility sets an example and aligns with our climate commitments.”
The resolution will take effect June 1. Previously, buildings only had to achieve a silver standard that was established in 2008.
Additionally, all major renovation projects of 5,000 square feet or more must now meet LEED Silver certification, and all projects will be evaluated for maximum on-site renewable energy systems.
“Our facilities team doesn’t just want to meet requirements, we want to exceed them,” Bryan Cooper, assistant city engineer of facilities said in a statement. “Of the 14 LEED-certified buildings the city currently owns, 12 have already achieved Gold or Platinum certification. This resolution will help us continue to be a sustainable buildings leader in our community.”
Buildings and facilities accounted for nearly half of climate pollution from city operations in 2022.
In its 2024 Sustainability Plan, Madison set a goal of reducing climate pollution from city facilities by 55% by 2030 from its 2018 baseline.
