Miami-Dade County receives LEED Gold Community designation

Miami-Dade County announced this week that it has achieved LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the world’s most widely used green building rating system, and Miami-Dade is now part of a growing group to be certified using the LEED for Cities and Communities rating system in the nation and in the region. Other LEED certified communities include Resilient305 partner City of Miami Beach and Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact partners, Palm Beach and Broward Counties.  

“As a community uniquely vulnerable to climate change, we are working aggressively to build a more resilient Miami-Dade and lessen our contributions to global warming,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. "We’re proud to be recognized as a LEED Gold certified community – affirmation that we’re setting the example for a low-carbon and resilient future while increasing quality of life for our residents.”  

Miami-Dade County achieved LEED certification for implementing practical, measurable strategies and solutions aimed at improving sustainability and the standard of living for residents. LEED is designed to help buildings, communities, and cities achieve high performance in key areas of human and environmental health.   

The Miami-Dade County community performed particularly well in the water efficiency category, thanks to water conservation tactics and the use of smart water systems. Additional notable initiatives include:  

• Low carbon economy 
• Green Building policies 
• Vulnerability to sea level rise assessments 
• Resilient305 Strategy 

“Miami-Dade County’s LEED Gold certification demonstrates tremendous sustainability and climate leadership,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC. “LEED for Cities and Communities was created to help improve our living standard and ensure every citizen has access to healthy, green and high performing places and spaces. Cities and communities that achieve LEED certification develop responsible, sustainable and specific plans for green energy, water, waste, transportation and many other factors that contribute to quality of life, such as equity, education, resilience, infrastructure and more. Miami-Dade County is a prime example of how innovative planning and collaboration can help achieve sustainability and resilience goals.”  

LEED enables Miami-Dade to measure and track outcomes that are evaluated against key metrics including energy, water, waste, transportation, education, health, safety, prosperity and equitability.  Miami-Dade County joins a global network of more than 100 certified cities and communities.  

“Miami Dade continues to accelerate sustainable solutions by becoming a LEED Gold certified county,” said Gene Schaefer, president, Bank of America Miami. “We are proud to partner with USGBC and its LEED for Cities program as part of our larger capital deployment commitment to address climate change and build resilience in more local communities.”  

Miami-Dade recognizes that the key to stopping or slowing global warming lies with cities and communities. Achievement of LEED Gold for communities reinforces the County’s goals laid out in the recently released Climate Action Strategy, Miami-Dade's blueprint for cutting greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. USGBC's LEED for Cities and Communities rating system helps the county plan, design, manage, measure and improve our communities, to offer higher sustainability and quality of life to all as we move toward net zero in energy, carbon, water and waste, while holistically focusing on outcomes on the environment, economy, equity, and engagement.   

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About the U.S. Green Building Council: The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, an international network of local community leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.