The City of Ithaca has been awarded LEED for Cities Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), recognizing its commitment to sustainability and environmental leadership. The certification highlights the city’s progress under the Ithaca Green New Deal and its efforts to enhance quality of life through sustainable policies.
The achievement is the result of a collaborative effort between the City of Ithaca, the Cornell University Sustainable Design – Sustainable City team, and Tetra Tech. The partnership helped develop a robust application that demonstrated the city’s commitment to energy efficiency, greenhouse gas reduction, water conservation, and sustainable land use.
“Ithaca has been a leader in sustainability for many years, and this award is proof that our community’s hard work and innovative approaches are paying off,” said Mayor Robert Cantelmo. “We are proud to be a LEED Gold certified city.”
According to LEED metrics, Ithaca performed best in the Energy & GHG Emissions category, with strong marks in Transportation & Land Use and Water Efficiency. City Manager Deb Mohlenhoff praised the initiative as a way to measure the city’s performance while identifying areas for future improvement.
USGBC President and CEO Peter Templeton applauded Ithaca’s leadership in sustainability, stating, “Local governments that achieve LEED certification are lowering carbon emissions, creating a healthier environment, and striving to improve quality of life for their residents.”
With this certification, Ithaca joins a network of more than 300 cities worldwide recognized for their sustainability efforts.
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