Chicago’s new public buildings to receive LEED certification

City trying to conserve energy, lower costs, and ensure healthy indoor environments

Chicago mayor, Richard M. Daley recently announced that the city’s newly constructed public buildings will be LEED-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The mayor said this certification process is part of the Chicago’s effort to be one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the United States.

The Chicago Center for Green Technology has already received a Platinum rating—LEED’s highest— from the USGBC. The building, which uses the earth’s temperature to cool and heat itself, was built on a former brownfield site with recycled materials and includes a rooftop garden, rainwater cisterns, and smart lighting systems.