Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Rochester has the distinction of being the first city in the state to achieve LEED Gold certification through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program established by the U.S. Green Building Council.

A statement from the city indicates the certification recognizes Rochester for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at improving sustainability and quality of life.

Kevin Bright, Director of Sustainability for Destination Medical Center (DMC) and the City of Rochester, shares, “Rochester, Minnesota is undergoing significant change and LEED for Cities is providing a platform to help us better understand our City from an environmental, social and equity perspective. This platform is helpful not only for us to track our own change, but also benchmark against others and strive for continuous improvement.”

The LEED program enables cities to measure and track outcomes based on over a dozen standards of measurement covering energy, water, waste, education, health, safety, prosperity, and equitability. The LEED certification highlighted areas where Rochester is performing well and areas in need of improvement. The city was given high marks for energy consumption and human experience, while it lagged on transportation issues and water consumption.

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