News

Home

Posted on: November 23, 2022

City of Atlantic Beach achieves LEED Gold, becomes first city in world to recertify

The City of Atlantic Beach has achieved LEED Gold certification and is the first city in the world to recertify under the LEED for Cities and Communities Rating System from the pilot version to v4.1 version. The City of Atlantic Beach is part of a growing group of more than 300 local governments and communities worldwide to be certified using the LEED for Cities rating system. There are now 20 LEED-certified local governments in Florida. A public celebration program, originally scheduled for Dec. 13, will be held at a yet-to-be-scheduled date in 2023.

The City of Atlantic Beach’s efforts to recertify at the Gold level was spearheaded by its citizen-based Environmental Stewardship Committee, working in conjunction with City Planning and Community Development Director Amanda Askew. The City’s predominant work was performed by Principal Planner Brian Broedell. City Commission member Candace Kelly is credited with proposing LEED certification during the 2018 Atlantic Beach City Commission visioning process, and the City Commission continues to steadfastly support this seminal environmental initiative.

Mayor Ellen Glasser said it wasn’t enough for the community “to passively appreciate its natural and community assets, and just rely on hope that the next generation would have them.”  

“This, along with our recently adopted city vision and Community Action Plan, speak to our community's significant buy-in,” Glasser said. “Thanks to our Environmental Stewardship Committee, our staff and other experts, and our local elected officials, but — mostly — I want to thank our citizens. Together, we did this.”

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), was created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is the world’s most widely used green-building rating program. LEED is designed to help buildings, communities and cities achieve high performance in key areas of human and environmental health. LEED for Cities enables cities to measure and track outcomes and be evaluated based on key metrics that include energy, water, waste, transportation, education, health, safety, prosperity and equitability. Performance is tracked through Arc, a digital platform that connects, manages, analyzes and scores sustainability progress using a performance score.

“We’re beyond lucky to have such an amazing planning staff in Atlantic Beach that can take a bold Commission idea such as getting LEED for Cities-certified and turn it into a reality. They are truly a class act,” said Atlantic Beach City Manager Shane Corbin. “I hope that LEED for Cities can be used as a tool to make this city a leader in environmental protection for years to come.”

Atlantic Beach improved its 2019 LEED Silver score of 58 to a LEED Gold score of 67 under the much more robust and rigorous LEED for Cities v4.1 version. In addition to implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at improving sustainability, resiliency, and quality of life, the City of Atlantic Beach also created and passed a Sustainability & Resilience Community Action Plan, which includes aspirational 2050 goals. 

“A sustainable Atlantic Beach strives to offer its residents a higher living standard. A LEED Atlantic Beach takes action and delivers measurable outcomes that improves overall quality of life for residents,” said Peter Templeton, USGBC’s president and CEO. “Given the extraordinary importance of climate protection, building more resilient cities is crucial and the City of Atlantic Beach’s LEED Gold certification is a symbol of their leadership.”

* * * * *

About the City of Atlantic Beach

The City of Atlantic Beach (est. pop. 13,513) has a strong sense of belonging and safety. Our citizens and government care deeply about community character, and we understand that unified support is required to preserve it. We are graced with the functional beauty of our beach, our marsh, and our tree canopy. Our shady streets and multi-use paths connect our welcoming neighborhoods and vibrant local businesses. Our city supports our diverse, multigenerational, socially linked community with green spaces, active lifestyles, parks, and programming. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean (to the east), the Intracoastal Waterway (to the west) and Hanna Park (to the north), Atlantic Beach is considered by many to be the most desirable place to live in Northeast Florida. For more information, visit coab.us and connect on Facebook, YouTube, and AB Environmental Stewardship Committee Facebook.
 

About the U.S. Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a healthy, resilient and equitable future for all through the development of green buildings, cities and communities. For more than 20 years, USGBC has been advancing green building practices through the development of LEED, the world’s most widely used green building program. With the support of thousands of members, volunteers and partners, USGBC provides robust green building education courses, a rigorous professional credentialing program, and advocates for effective public policies. It convenes an international network of green building and sustainability leaders through the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, and forward thinking programs, including the Center for Green Schools. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

 

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in Home

Career Day 2023 Flyer-page-001

City to host Career Day June 14

Posted on: May 24, 2023

Wild Wonders 2023 schedule

Posted on: May 15, 2023

Kids to Parks Day set for May 20

Posted on: May 8, 2023

City Manager Recruitment Update

Posted on: May 15, 2023

Flood protection in-a-nutshell

Posted on: April 29, 2023

Charter Review Committee established

Posted on: January 26, 2023

Egg hunt on tap for April 8

Posted on: January 19, 2023

Youth Council meetings set

Posted on: January 19, 2023

Mayor's Message (February 2023)

Posted on: February 20, 2023

Mayor's Message (January 2023)

Posted on: January 20, 2023

Charter Review

Posted on: January 10, 2023

Protect Our Beaches Campaign

Posted on: December 13, 2022

November 8 Municipal Election Update

Posted on: November 22, 2022

Tropical Storm Nicole Update

Posted on: November 7, 2022

Adopt-a-Tree, why don't ya

Posted on: September 19, 2022

Please join the AB Cares team, if you can

Posted on: September 8, 2022

King tides in AB during fall 2022

Posted on: September 7, 2022

Crime prevention tips

Posted on: August 26, 2022

City adopts mission, values statements

Posted on: August 24, 2022

Make sure your signs meet code

Posted on: August 24, 2022

Mosquitoes buggin’ ya? We feel ya.

Posted on: August 3, 2022

Donner Road construction underway

Posted on: July 15, 2022

Senior Tai Chi classes

Posted on: July 28, 2022

Sculptures of Atlantic Beach

Posted on: June 30, 2022

Beaches Community Resources Guide

Posted on: June 2, 2022

Lower Speed Limit = Safer Community

Posted on: April 7, 2022

Earth Day Art Show April 22

Posted on: April 1, 2022

Welcome, British Royal Navy sailors

Posted on: March 24, 2022

Volunteer Opportunities

Posted on: March 15, 2022

City of AB honors 'Dutton Island 5'

Posted on: February 15, 2022

Town Hall meeting this Saturday

Posted on: January 20, 2022

Complete Streets Project: Main Street

Posted on: December 10, 2021

Complete Streets: A Primer

Posted on: December 10, 2021

COAB Tree Giveaway Program

Posted on: December 6, 2021

16th Street beach walkover project update

Posted on: November 13, 2021

King tides in AB during fall 2021

Posted on: September 9, 2021

King tides in AB during fall 2021

Posted on: September 9, 2021

City of Atlantic Beach COVID-19 Update

Posted on: August 17, 2021

AB Jazz Fest postponed

Posted on: July 29, 2021

Saluting AB’s Small Businesses

Posted on: July 23, 2021

Trees in AB: Call before you cut

Posted on: July 19, 2021

Bridgeport barge update

Posted on: July 15, 2021

About palm tree pruning

Posted on: May 27, 2021

Stay in the Know, AB

Posted on: March 6, 2021

City of AB Connectivity Plan

Posted on: May 5, 2021

Public Parking Workshop May 6

Posted on: April 29, 2021

City of AB helping 'LEED' the way.

Posted on: April 28, 2021

City Commission Priorities

Posted on: April 27, 2021

USS Stark ceremony to be held May 17

Posted on: April 23, 2021

About traffic signals …

Posted on: February 14, 2021

City Hall Closed Presidents’ Day

Posted on: February 12, 2021

COVID-19 Update

Posted on: January 28, 2021

MLK Celebration to be held online

Posted on: January 14, 2021

Latest COVID-19 testing information

Posted on: January 14, 2021

Please don't feed geese and other wildlife

Posted on: December 24, 2020

Put AB Under Your Tree

Posted on: December 2, 2020

Duval County election results

Posted on: November 4, 2020

Howell Park enhancements under way

Posted on: September 30, 2020

Get the SaferWatch app

Posted on: September 22, 2020

18th Street Enhancement Project update

Posted on: August 17, 2020

Isaias Update

Posted on: August 1, 2020

Are you storm-ready?

Posted on: July 30, 2020

Stay safe at the beach

Posted on: July 9, 2020

Promoting Racial Equity

Posted on: June 19, 2020

Juneteenth Freedom Day

Posted on: June 19, 2020

Sign regulations update

Posted on: May 7, 2020

Coronavirus information

Posted on: March 4, 2020

JEA trimming trees in Atlantic Beach

Posted on: January 21, 2020