City of Grand Rapids – Green Building Requirements for Municipal Buildings

In January 2006, the City of Grand Rapids approved a resolution detailing the city’s sustainability policy for public buildings. The resolution directed city personnel to implement the principles for the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program and the EPA Energy Star and Green Lights programs. Included in this was a specific requirement that all construction and renovation projects involving municipal buildings larger than 10,000 square feet and a cost of $1 million or more receive LEED certification.

Update: Grand Rapids’ 2019 strategic plan established goals for renewables, emissions reductions, and energy reductions for public buildings, as well as percentage increases of low or zero-emission vehicles in the city fleet. Creation of the energy consumption reductions and ZEV fleet increase targets are still ongoing. However, the emissions reductions and renewables goals have been finalized. Emissions from city buildings, utilities and fleets must be reduced from a 2008 baseline by 85% by 2030 and carbon neutral by 2040. The goal of electricity consumed by city buildings, utilities, and fleet charging for ZEVs is 100% renewable by 2025.