City of Madison Raises Building Standards
The City of Madison, Wis., raised its green building requirements for all City-owned facilities, now requiring LEED Gold certification for all new construction projects. The resolution will take effect June 1, 2026. It also is an upgrade from the Silver standard requirement in 2008.
This commitment intends to to minimize climate pollution while reducing operating costs for taxpayers.
“Madison has set ambitious climate goals, and our buildings are a critical piece of reaching those targets,” said Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. “By raising our standards for all new facilities to LEED Gold, we’re ensuring that every new City facility sets an example and aligns with our climate commitments.”
Also in the City, all major renovation projects of 5,000 square feet or more must now meet LEED Silver certification and all projects will be evaluated for maximum on-site renewable energy systems. A study from the City of Madison found that, their buildings and facilities accounted for nearly half of their pollution in 2022. In the 2024 Sustainability Plan, the City set the goal of reducing climate pollution from City facilities by 55% by 2030 from their 2018 baseline. The requirement of LEED certifications plans to meet this ambitious goal.
“Our facilities team doesn’t just want to meet requirements, we want to exceed them,” said Bryan Cooper, Assistant City Engineer – Facilities. “Of the fourteen LEED-certified buildings the City currently owns, twelve have already achieved Gold or Platinum certification. This resolution will help us continue to be a sustainable buildings leader in our community.”
