Chicago takes the LEED in eco building
September 15, 2010
CHICAGO — You might think that Chicago — birthplace of the skyscraper and home to nine of the world''s 100 tallest buildings — is like a city of the eco-damned: Not so, according to Grist.
Chicago has the highest number of LEED-certified buildings in the United States, the highest square footage of green rooftops and a longstanding commitment to green building, the article noted.
The Windy City counts 124 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) buildings, including 32 municipal structures, scored by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for factors such as water conservation, use of energy-saving building systems and proximity to public transportation, the article stated.
According to the article, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley became and early proponent of sustainable building techniques when the city opened its Chicago Center for Green Technology in 2002.
Chicago''s Sustainable Development Policy mandates that projects receiving financial or zoning assistance from the city include sustainable elements such as green roofs, LEED certification or designs that allow structures to absorb large amounts of storm water, the article added.
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