The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the leading authority on green building and the global developer of the LEED green building program, has announced that the City of Brighton is one of 16 local governments selected to participate in the 2025 LEED for Cities Cohort.
The annual cohort is a component of USGBC’s Local Government Leadership Program and is intended to help local governments set goals, collect data, and validate performance against sustainability and quality of life metrics using the LEED for Cities rating system. LEED for Cities offers local governments a clear roadmap for achieving sustainability, providing a comprehensive framework for managing community-wide sustainability efforts.
“We are excited to be part of the 2025 LEED for Cities cohort because it will give us tools to better track our progress on things like energy use, water conservation, and community wellbeing,” said Traci McLean, sustainability coordinator for the City of Brighton. “Through this program, we become part of a larger network of cities that we can learn from, set clear goals, and make data-driven decisions that move Brighton forward. Also, it reaffirms our commitment to advancing sustainability and improving the quality of life for residents and future generations.”
USGBC’s Local Government Leadership Program is supported through a partnership with Bank of America and has provided direct support to nearly 120 U.S. local governments representing 55 million people. The program aims to meaningfully engage with local governments on their sustainability journeys, equip local leaders with the tools they need to be successful in advancing green building and sustainable development in their communities, and inspire ambition and accelerate the pace of sustainability and climate action in cities, towns and counties.
“City governments play a critical role in advancing public and environmental health, resilience, and economic prosperity across their communities,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC. “We applaud this cohort for prioritizing these outcomes and committing to meaningful actions on sustainability and community well-being. The LEED for Cities framework helps local governments track performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement best practices--delivering near-term benefits and lasting positive impact.
Since the program’s inception in 2017, resilience and sustainability have become increasingly important factors in every community’s success. Using the LEED for Cities rating system, local governments demonstrate their performance against key sustainability and quality-of-life topics such as resilience planning, energy efficiency, green spaces, mobility management, public health, responsible procurement, stormwater management, and green building policy.
The 2025 cohort represents a combined population of more than 14 million people. The local governments include:
- Ashland, Mass.
- Aurora, Ill.
- Brighton, Colo.
- Cook County, Ill.
- Delray Beach, Fla.
- Farmers Branch, Texas
- Harris County, Texas
- King County, Wash.
- Lafayette, Ind.
- Lincoln, Neb.
- Mercer Island, Wash.
- Milwaukee, Wis.
- Pittsburgh, Pa.
- Riverside, Calif.
- Sun Prairie, Wis.
- West Lafayette, Ind.
About the U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, an international network of local community leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.