Overland Park plans to make all of its operations sustainable — but how?
Overland Park is among a small group of cities selected to be in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Cities Local Government Leadership Program 2024 cohort. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building rating standard that’s been used on thousands of structures in the U.S. in the public and private sectors, though some reports suggest the standard is imperfect. The building council also offers a certification program for judging jurisdictional sustainability beyond just physical structures, which is what Overland Park is currently undergoing this year. Previously, the LEED for Cities program was called the STAR Community Rating System. Lara Isch, sustainability manager for the city, said she expects the LEED for Cities program process to be a big focus of her division’s work over the next 12 or so months. Still, she said she’s “super excited” to see the city getting “this certification done.” The rating will help establish a “baseline assessment” for Overland Park’s current sustainability efforts across the community compared to peer communities, Isch said last month during a presentation to the Community Development Committee. It will also develop something of a “roadmap” to help the city stay on track with its goals in that area, Isch said.
Source: Johnson County Post
