Media Release

11:00 am

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), is a nationally recognized certification system that ranks a property's overall sustainability by awarding points for a wide variety of sustainable features. The LEED-ND (for Neighborhood Development, also known as the "smart growth" LEED)  program was developed through a partnership of the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Congress for the New Urbanism, and the US Green Building Council.

The national rating system for LEED-ND for Neighborhood Development is open for public comment through January 5, 2009. The new standards, along with online public comment instructions, may be accessed at: http://www.usgbc.org/LEED/LEEDDrafts/RatingSystemVersions.aspx?CMSPageID=1458

The Brytan project in southwest Alachua County is the first development in North Central Florida and one of only six developments in Florida to receive the LEED-ND designation. Alachua County is currently evaluating ways of better encouraging developers to incorporate LEED-ND into their project designs through land development policies and regulations. 

For more information about LEED-ND and "green" development, contact Stephen Hofstetter at the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department at 352-264-6811.

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