A new way forward for resilient, green, inclusive and smart cities
LEED for Cities and Communities helps local leaders create responsible, sustainable and specific plans for natural systems, energy, water, waste, transportation and many other factors that contribute to quality of life.
The certification programs revolutionize the way cities and communities are planned, developed and operated in order to improve their overall sustainability and quality of life. The LEED framework encompasses social, economic and environmental performance indicators and strategies with a clear, data-driven means of benchmarking and communicating progress. The program is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and is influenced by our engagement with hundreds of cities and communities around the globe.
Select your priorities to tell your story
LEED for Cities and Communities follows a structure consistent with other LEED rating systems allowing cities and communities to select the focus areas of most import to their local stakeholders through credits and points while setting a baseline through prerequisites. Strategies organized around several categories:
Cities depend on nature and ecosystem services to not only sustain life, but also enhance the quality of life. Ecosystems protect and even regenerate natural systems, thereby increasing the ecosystem services they provide and creating ecologically resilient communities. These are better able to withstand and recover from episodic floods, droughts, wildfires, and other catastrophic events.
The transport sector is responsible for a quarter of energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. Land use is the key driver of mobility in a city, and rapid urbanization has disrupted land use patterns, resulting in urban sprawl and increased dependency on personal, motorized vehicles. This credit category encourages cities to adopt an integrated approach towards urban planning through mixed-use development, efficient transportation, better connectivity and engagement with stakeholders.
Water is the lifeline of any city. However, equity and access have been a major challenge in many cities. Water demand has been constantly increasing in urban and peri-urban areas and is stressing freshwater reserves, creating a perennial shortage of water in these cities. This credit category addresses water at multiple levels – meeting demand, maintaining water quality, reducing water losses, capturing stormwater, and managing urban floods. This credit category encourages cities to adopt an integrated approach toward water use management and planning and move towards a net zero water city.
Cities are large aggregators and consumers of materials and nutrients, accounting for the highest natural resource consumption affecting the environment and human health. The development of cities, with their high concentration of resources, capital, data and skills over a small geographic territory, provides opportunities to uniquely drive a global transition from a linear to a circular economy. This credit category encourages cities to move towards net zero waste city through recycling, reuse and reduction of waste generation.
Raising the standard of living and quality of life for all residents around the globe is the program goal for the Quality of Life category. Cities and communities must equitably address the needs of all people, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, socio-cultural and economic status in their pursuits of livability and sustainability. This category encourages leaders to assess their socio-economic and demographic conditions and make improvements to their communities that support social equity, public health, affordability, education, prosperity, and community engagement.
Performance in these categories is tracked two ways: through prerequisites and credits.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites are required and include two types: base conditions and the performance score. Base conditions include access to drinking water and power as well as assessments of ecological and socio-economic conditions.
The performance score combines 14 metrics across 5 categories: Energy, Water, Waste, Transportation, and Quality of Life. Nine of the metrics are in the Quality of Life category, across these sub-categories: Education, Equitability, Prosperity, and Health & Safety.
| Category | Metric | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions (CO2 equivalent) | Tons per Year per Person |
| Water | 2. Domestic Water Consuption | Amount per Year per Person |
| Waste | 3. Municipal Solid Waste Generated | Amount per Year per Person |
| 4. Municipal Solid Waste Diverted from Landfill | % of Total Amount Collected | |
| Transportation | 5. Distance Traveled in Individual Vehicles Daily | Distance per Day per Person |
| Education | 6. Population with (at least) a High School Degree | % of Population 25 Years or Older |
| 7. Population with (at least) a Bachelor's Degree | % of Population 25 Years or Older | |
| Equitability | 8. Median Gross Rent as a % of Household Income | % |
| 9. Gini Coefficient | Number between zero and one | |
| Prosperity | 10. Median Household Income | US Dollars per Year |
| 11. Unemployment Rate | % of Population 16 Years or Older | |
| Health & Safety | 12. Median Air Quality Index (AQI) | Number between zero and 500 |
| 13. Air Quality Days Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | Days between zero and 365 | |
| 14. Violent Crime | Per Capita per Year |
Credits
Credits are optional, but the points earned for each credit is combined with the performance score and contributes to your overall score. Most credits include a combination of outcomes and strategies. Outcomes are quantitative and measure community conditions or results. An example is to demonstrate that at least 60% of households spend less than 45% on housing and transportation combined. Strategies are qualitative and include plans, policies, programs and other actions intended to move the needle on change in outcomes.
Who's using LEED for Cities and Communities
Nearly 200 cities and communities across the globe are using LEED for Cities and Communities to communicate continuous performance. More than 110 are certified.
Orlando, Florida
LEED Gold | 2019
“As a city we must lead by example. There is still much work to do and we are committed to showcasing how a modern city can protect our environment and our natural resources and still have a robust economy.” - Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
Cincinnati, Ohio
LEED Silver | 2019
"Cincinnati has worked hard to be a sustainability leader and innovator. Our Green Cincinnati Plan, solar energy projects, and investment in public transit all reflect our commitment to building a better future. Obtaining the LEED for Cities certification provides proof that our efforts are working and guidance about where our future projects will have the most impact." - Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley
Savona, Italy
LEED Gold | 2018
"The city of Savona is committed to making measurable progress that we will share with others so that we can serve as a model for other cities that are looking to participate in LEED for Cities." — Mayor of Savona, Ilaria Caprioglio
Phoenix, Arizona
LEED Platinum | 2017
"Phoenix has earned a national reputation for its leadership on sustainability, and this prominent certification validates our incredible progress. We've set ambitious goals, and Phoenix will continue to take more steps to divert waste, increase water efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions, which benefits us, our environment and our economy." — Mayor of Phoenix, Greg Stanton
Arlington, Virginia
LEED Platinum | 2017
"It is truly an honor, and a validation of Arlington’s commitment to sustainability, to be the first to earn Platinum certification as a LEED community. This has been a community effort, achieved by having a vision of combating climate change and promoting energy efficiency on a local level, and putting in place innovative policies and practices to achieve it. Now, more than ever, the responsibility for progress on climate change rests with local and state governments and with the private sector." — Arlington County Board Chair, Jay Fisette
Washington, D.C.
LEED Platinum | 2017
"It is in the best interest of Washington, DC’s safety, economy, and future to take sustainability and resiliency seriously, and as the nation’s capital, we have a special obligation to lead the way on environmental issues. We are proud to be recognized as the world’s first LEED Platinum city. Our commitment to these issues will not yield, and we look forward to continuing to build a greener, more resilient, and more sustainable DC." —Mayor of the District of Columbia, Muriel Bowser
Imagine a future where cities are healthy, sustainable and high performing
Cities and communities can lead in prioritizing and enhancing human health, while saving energy, water and waste. Cities can be powered by clean and reliable energy, while teaching children in green school buildings. Cities can be affordable and accessible for all. We see that future within reach, with consistent and clear performance measurement as the path that will lead the way.
Stay engaged: Sign up to receive email about the latest LEED for Cities and Communities updates or email directly at cities@usgbc.org.