Orange County NC Website
1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> DEPARTMENT OF ASSET MANAGEMENT SERVICES <br /> Memorandum <br /> To: Board of County Commissioners <br /> Bonnie Hammersley, County Manager <br /> From: Steven Arndt, Director, Asset Management Services <br /> Amy Eckberg, Sustainability Programs Manager <br /> Date: May 24, 2022 <br /> Subject: Orange County Receives LEED Gold Certification from U.S. <br /> Green Building Council <br /> On April 19, 2022, Orange County received word from the U.S. Green Building Council <br /> (USGBC) that it had earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) <br /> Certification for Cities and Communities at the Gold level. LEED for Cities and <br /> Communities is the leading global rating system and certification program for evaluating <br /> the sustainability and quality of life in a city or community. Community sustainability is <br /> about the integrated system of a community supporting a robust environment and <br /> vibrant economies, while equitably serving residents. As such, the LEED program <br /> emphasizes social, economic, and environmental performance indicators that allow <br /> communities to gauge and compare their progress and identify opportunities for growth <br /> in achieving sustainability goals. <br /> Orange County first embarked on the LEED certification process in 2019 when it applied <br /> and received a technical and financial assistance grant supported by Bank of America. <br /> Despite the distractions and demands of responding simultaneously to a pandemic, <br /> County staff and invaluable supporters remained dedicated to the certification process <br /> which included gathering and verifying performance data across departments, Towns <br /> and the County. <br /> Cities and Communities can earn points towards certification for performance in the <br /> following categories. <br />