Five years after the launch of LEED v4.1 for Cities and Communities, dozens of cities, towns and counties around the globe have certified using the Existing Cities adaptation.

The scalability and flexibility of the rating system has allowed a diversity of places to certify. Yet, as more and more places assess and explore LEED for Cities and Communities, a few common myths have arisen. Here’s the truth about those concerns.

Myths and facts

Myth: The LEED for Cities and Communities certification focuses on certifying all buildings in a city.

Fact: While there is a green building credit in the rating system, LEED for Cities and Communities moves beyond single buildings, to comprehensively assess the sustainability of an entire city. Through a triple bottom line approach to sustainability, program participants evaluate things such as access to green spaces, public health indicators, climate action and resilience, and environmental justice.

This holistic assessment of sustainability provides cities with data and tools to measure sustainability comprehensively. Results from the certification process demonstrate leadership and identify areas for improvement.

Myth: LEED for Cities and Communities is only for large, dense urban places.

Fact: Certified LEED for Cities and Communities locales represent a broad range of places around the globe. Large cities such as Houston, Texas, with over 2 million residents, as well as small towns such as Jupiter Inlet Colony, Florida, with just under 500 residents, have certified. The geography and location of cities is also varied, with coastal cities, suburban towns, large counties, desert communities and urban centers all pursuing certification.

The flexibility and various pathways to points provide opportunities to receive credit for the range of work taking place in cities. The scalability of the rating system provides avenues for all city types to demonstrate leadership.

Myth: Only cities with long-established offices of sustainability can achieve LEED for Cities and Communities certification.

Fact: Cities at various points in their sustainability journeys have used LEED for Cities and Communities. Places such as Santa Monica, California, which adopted its first sustainability plan in 1994, used the rating system to demonstrate leadership and vet their work with a third-party certification. Other places, such as Middleton, Wisconsin, enter the program with new sustainability staff and use the rating system to shape their future sustainability and climate plans.

The LEED for Cities and Communities rating system’s framework is built on pillars that all sustainable cities strive for and should be measured against—thus, the certification proves useful for all levels of experience.

Myth: LEED for Cities and Communities takes too much time and effort, and only large teams can take it on.

Fact: Capacity is often cited as one of the biggest burdens to entry and is a serious one to consider. Successful cities come into certification with a few things in common: the right team, dedicated resources and a clear plan to certify. A variety of team types have successfully certified. Most often, the process is led by a sustainability manager, but other team structures have included volunteers, such as when the Billings, Montana, Energy and Conservation Commission led the certification process with staff support. Many places also leverage interns and fellows.

Some teams kick off the certification process with the plan to certify in six months, while others intend to use the data collection process to align with a planning effort, knowing it will be an 18-month process. The key is to have a plan with set milestones.

Myth: LEED for Cities and Communities certification is a one-time event that happens in isolation.

Fact: One of the most cited benefits of the certification process is its transformative ability to break down silos and bring departments together to work toward shared goals. The integrative planning and leadership credit sets up teams for the certification process, which requires data-gathering from a wide range of entities. Seeking out information and forming relationships results in teams seeing the benefits of pursuing sustainability and assuming ownership.

In addition, certification is an iterative process. The initial certification provides a baseline from which to grow. Now, several cities have recertified to track their progress over time.

More information

Cities, towns and counties around the globe are using LEED for Cities and Communities to measure progress and demonstrate leadership. The LEED framework is a key component to regional climate action, providing a way to measure key equity indicators and commit to continuous improvement through recertification.

To learn more, reach out to us or register online for LEED for Cities and Communities.

Learn more about LEED for Cities and Communities

Busting common myths about LEED for Cities and Communities