Sustainability

Going the Extra Green Mile

The Flats East Bank district is placing a strong emphasis on environmentally-conscious design and construction, which is helping to propel Cleveland to the forefront of the national green movement.

In 2010, the U.S. Green Building Council certified plans for the Flats East Bank project for meeting criteria for Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND). LEED is considered to be the national standard for sustainable design, and the project underwent rigorous analysis in order for the plan to be certified as one of the first LEED-ND green neighborhoods in the country.

The Flats East Bank project design met LEED-ND criteria by incorporating LEED-certified buildings, energy-efficient lighting fixtures, the use of recycled content in building materials, roof gardens, reduced water use, and a reduced parking footprint. It also received points for compact development, connection to the river and brownfield remediation.

LEED-ND is the first green building rating system that looks beyond individual buildings to address entire neighborhoods – encompassing streets, sidewalks, public spaces and storefronts. Flats East Bank involvement contributes to Cleveland's role as fourth in the nation for the number of developments seeking certification in this pilot program.

Downtown Cleveland’s wind power generator.

Flats East Bank will ultimately be a neighborhood with improved infrastructure that works in greater harmony and efficiency with our natural resources, increased commitment to recycling and energy efficiency, increased walk and bike-ability, eco-friendly transportation and an overall advancement of a healthier way of living, working and playing.