City of Gainesville earns LEED Gold for sustainability, resilience

Published on September 03, 2025

The City of Gainesville has earned LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), joining a select group of 56 LEED Gold cities across the country. 

Gainesville officially earned Gold certification June 30, 2025. City staff completed a rigorous application process to score 70 of 110 points on its first LEED for Cities application, surpassing both Certified and Silver levels.

“It is gratifying as a Gainesville native, and certainly as mayor, to see us score so highly in this regard. This is the level of achievement our neighbors expect, and I’m proud of the City of Gainesville for delivering,” said Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward. 

At the Sept. 4 Gainesville City Commission meeting, a USGBC representative will present city leaders and staff with a plaque in recognition of the city’s achievement.

“This milestone reflects the teamwork across departments and partners to enhance efficiency, identify cost-saving opportunities and strengthen Gainesville’s position for future grants and funding,” said Chief Resiliency Officer Dan Zhu. 

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the world’s most widely used green building rating system. Through the LEED for Cities program, cities create and execute sustainable plans for natural systems, innovation, transportation, land use, energy, water, waste and other factors that contribute to quality of life.

“The City of Gainesville’s LEED Gold certification is a symbol of their leadership on sustainability,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO of USGBC. “Gainesville is setting a standard for what it means to be a high performer, and their efforts and achievements should be an example for all.”

Creating a sustainable community by addressing climate change, reducing Gainesville’s carbon footprint and designing new developments based on sustainability concepts are key elements of the City’s strategic plan.