Not that we needed more reasons to love Balboa Park!
Now, in addition to being one of the most beautiful parks known to man, Balboa Park is also a leader in sustainability. The Balboa Park Cultural Partnership announced on Monday that it has officially been awarded the LEED for Cities and Communities certification, becoming the first cultural district and historic landmark in the country to be awarded the designation.
The certification, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, recognizes green and efficient building practices and requires a thorough evaluation of energy efficiency measures, water efficiency, waste reduction strategies, green purchasing initiatives, transportation, etc. It’s the world’s most widely recognized green building certification system.
Congratulations to @BalboaPark on becoming LEED certified. Our city’s crown jewel is the first cultural district and historic landmark to achieve this environmental designation. Let’s continue to make sustainability a priority in the park and all of San Diego. pic.twitter.com/8Te5sw4lip
— Todd Gloria (@ToddGloria) February 16, 2021
With this new certification, Balboa Park joins a group of 115 LEED certified cities and communities around the world. The Balboa Park Cultural Partnership first began efforts to become certified in 2009. In a collaborative effort with its member organizations, the City of San Diego and San Diego Gas & Electric, the park has achieved the certification of no less than ten Balboa Park buildings as LEED venues.
And the efforts don’t stop there. The park and its collaborators continue to look for ways to improve sustainable practices and policies throughout the park. “Working together we’ve made sustainability part of the culture here in Balboa Park,” said Mayor Todd Gloria in a press release. “Certification as a LEED community demonstrates that Balboa Park can be a catalyst for energy savings and other sustainability goals throughout the rest of the city.”
Here’s the list of currently LEED certified buildings in Balboa Park:
LEED Gold
- Casa de Balboa
- San Diego Museum of Us
LEED Silver
- Casa del Prado
- Federal Building (Comic-Con Museum)
- Fleet Science Center
- House of Charm
- The Old Globe
- WorldBeat Cultural Center
LEED Certified
- Japanese Friendship Garden: Inamori Pavilion
- San Diego Natural History Museum
See also: Cuteness Alert: There’s A Platypus Live Cam At The San Diego Zoo
[Featured image: Unsplash]