The city of Tempe announced that it has achieved LEED Gold certification — an international symbol of excellence recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council. 

With its record as a sustainability leader, Tempe is the only city in Arizona to achieve LEED Gold certification, one of only five LEED-certified communities statewide, a city release explained.

Tempe is part of a growing group to be certified using the LEED for Cities & Communities rating system, the release stated. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, was created by the USGBC and is the world’s widely-used green building rating system.

Expanding on the LEED for buildings rating system, LEED for Cities and Communities helps local leaders measure and manage progress in community conditions, in pursuit of a more sustainable, resilient and equitable future. 

Through the certification program, cities and communities create and operationalize responsible, sustainable and specific plans for natural systems, energy, water, waste, transportation and other factors that contribute to quality of life.

“To be a LEED city means that sustainability values aren’t just happening in a silo but integrated within each department and citywide, decisions and plans are being made by thinking through the social, economic, and environmental impacts for our residents,” Transportation and Sustainability Department Director Eric Iwersen stated in the release. 

“We have made good progress, and we will keep trying to do more, but this important holistic perspective for how we grow as a city is just one of the reasons why Tempe is a great place to live.”

Tempe earned 61 out of 110 total possible points to reach the gold level, earning the maximum points available in the following categories:

Resilience Planning: 4 out of 4 points

• This measure’s intent is to strengthen the resilience of communities to climate change risks, natural and man-made hazards and extreme events, according to the release. Tempe earned points for conducting a vulnerability and capacity assessment and for developing a resilience plan for the city.

Transportation Performance: 6 out of 6 points

• This measure’s intent is to promote non-motorized transportation, encourage use of public transit and reduce pollution from transportation sector, the release stated. Tempe earned points by measuring the daily Vehicle Miles Travelled per capita for all passenger vehicles within the city. The fewer per capita vehicle miles traveled, the higher the points earned.

Trend Improvements: 4 out of 4 points

• This measure’s intent is to demonstrate an improvement over time in key metrics pertaining to a person’s quality of life. Tempe earned points by ranking above the threshold for population with a high school degree, graduation rate, number of small businesses and unemployment rate, the release explained.

Tempe joins a global network of 150+ certified cities and communities. Arizona cities that have achieved LEED for Cities certification include Phoenix at the Platinum level, along with Tucson, Chandler and Peoria who all achieved LEED certification through the STAR Community Rating System.