Plano Animal Shelter awarded LEED^® certification for going 'green'

The City of Plano Animal Shelter has been awarded LEED^® Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification (GBCI). The shelter is the first to receive this certification for an existing building and one of the first 10 to receive this certification in North Texas.

The City of Plano Animal Shelter was able to achieve this designation through energy efficiency, updated lighting systems, water conservation, recycling programs, composting efforts, and using green materials. The efforts were led by city employees Richard Medlen, facilities maintenance superintendent, and Jamie Cantrell, animal services manager.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED^®) Green Building Rating System is a leading standard for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. This system is used to certify a building as "green," meaning that the structure is assessed in eight different areas:
* Location and Planning
* Sustainable Sites
* Water Efficiency
* Energy and Atmosphere
* Materials and Resources
* Indoor Environmental Quality
* Innovation and Design Process
* Regional Priority

For more information about the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), please visit their website at www.usgbc.org.