(Flyer photo/Todd Gill)Fayetteville this year was awarded LEED Gold certification, making it the only city in Arkansas to achieve the designation.
It joins a global list of more than 120 LEED certified cities and communities.
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The certification was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and has become the most prevalent green building rating system.
The council’s LEED for Cities program was designed to help municipal leaders formulate and implement sustainable strategies that can enhance the quality of life for residents.
Fayetteville earned 68 points out of the possible 110 across nine categories: integrative process, natural systems and ecology, water efficiency, energy and greenhouse gas emissions, transportation and land use, materials and resources, quality of life, innovation and regional priority.
Some of the most significant strategies that contributed to the certification include Fayetteville’s score in the natural systems and ecology category as part of its commitment to parks and open spaces. The city also scored high in the energy and greenhouse gas emissions category for committing to decrease its carbon footprint.
Fayetteville is also making notable strides with innovative community centered engagement, urban greening and economic development efforts, the USGBC said.
