Gaining Support for LEED ® -Certified Facilities in Local Government

Abstract

In a time of constrained budgets, local governments face increased pressure to justify the value of pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for new construction and building renovations. Since 2004, the Government of Johnson County, Kansas, has made it a practice to LEED-certify the majority of its new facilities and major renovations; it now owns three LEED Gold buildings and is pursuing certification of four new projects. This article will examine the approach that the Johnson County Facilities Management Department took in in planning and constructing its first LEED^® building and the manner in which it developed support from elected officials and the public for the project. The article will also address the perception that LEED certification adds substantially to project costs, focus on the value of pursuing LEED certification versus merely constructing “LEED-certifiable” buildings, and summarize the elements that have made the county's sustainable building efforts successful.