Brookhaven awarded Green Communities Certification by the Atlanta Regional Commission
Brookhaven, GA, Jan. 19, 2024 – The City of Brookhaven has been recognized with the Green Communities Certification by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) during their Board meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 10.
Brookhaven joins 17 local governments in the metro Atlanta area under the Green Communities Program. The ARC developed the Green Communities certification program in 2009 to certify local governments that prioritize programs and policies that lead to a more sustainable region.
According to the ARC, the level of certification is determined on a checklist that awards points for implementing a variety of sustainable measures such as green buildings, protecting tree canopies and greenspaces, and others. Brookhaven earned enough points to be Certified Gold.
To qualify, the city adopted several policies to satisfy requirements for the application. On May 9, 2023, the Brookhaven City Council approved of the following new policies.
- Green Building Policy: Requires all new or renovated buildings owned by the City to be LEED and/or ENERGY STAR certified.
- Environmental Preferrable Purchasing Policy: When determining Goods, Capital Assets, and Services to purchase, the City shall integrate environmental factors into the City’s decision, when available and commercially practicable in the reasonable discretion of the user.
- Lights Out/ Power Down Policy: Reduces energy use in City buildings from lighting and electronics when not in use.
- Ultra-high Efficiency Plumbing Policy: Requires installation of water-saving products, including WaterSense labeled, whenever practicable, including but not limited to, high performance fixtures such as toilets, urinals, low flow faucets, aerators, and upgraded high-efficiency irrigation systems.
- No Idling Policy: Restricts the allowed time that local government vehicles may idle when not directly engaged in the line of duty.
Brookhaven continues to perform activities within the strategic framework to demonstrate its commitment to benefiting the community now and in the future.
To find out more about Brookhaven’s sustainability and energy efficiency efforts, visit Sustainable Brookhaven | Brookhaven Georgia (brookhavenga.gov)
or contact Patrice Ruffin Dowdell at Patrice.Ruffin@BrookhavenGA.gov .
