The City of Costa Mesa achieved LEED Cities Gold Certification for its practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at improving sustainability and the standard of living for residents.
- In November 2020, City of Costa Mesa became the first City in California and one of only four cities in United States to have received LEED Gold certification using the most stringent LEED version 4.1. https://www.cityofcostamesanews.com/costa-mesa-wins-prestigious-leed-gold-certification-from-u-s-green-business-council/.
- U.S. Green Building Council LEED for Cities and Communities program 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 LEED framework encompasses social, economic and environmental performance indicators and strategies with a clear, data-driven means of benchmarking and communicating progress.
- LEED for Cities certification process allowed City staff to have a comprehensive understanding of the current sustainability and environmental initiatives in the City and in Orange County that improve residents’ quality of life. It created the opportunity to identify gaps, opportunities for improvement and provided the platform to work collaboratively to co-design local solutions that are realistic, timely, address equity/inclusion and reduce disaster risk reduction while building community resilience.
- The City’s goal was not only to get LEED for Cities (LfC) Gold level achievement – but also created the momentum and support needed to advance sustainability and energy related initiatives in Orange County long after certification. Instead of doing one off-projects here and here, City staff now uses LEED for Cities and Communities framework as a way to bring people together, find win-win opportunities, leverage partnerships, identify private-public sector collaboration and engage the community in an inclusive way. https://www.costamesaca.gov/city-hall/city-departments/public-services/sustainability
- Another great thing about LEED for Cities was, the opportunity to learn what other cities in different states and countries are doing and be able to network with like-minded sustainability leaders. This allows the City to implement industry best practices and allocate the right resources to become a truly sustainable and inclusive city in Orange County. The City also plans on taking a leadership role in Orange County to drive change and execute on our collective ambitious goals. By getting the first LEED for Cities certification, the City is encouraging other Cities to do the same, while inspiring social change, empowerment of communities to achieve sustainable, resilient and inclusive economic recovery in Southern California.
City of Costa Mesa's certification details
Annual Sustainability report