Hoboken Is First City In NJ To Earn 'LEED Gold' Status: Officials

HOBOKEN, NJ — The City of Hoboken recently earned “LEED Gold” status with the U.S. Green Building Council, officials said.

Hoboken is the first city in New Jersey to achieve LEED Gold certification, city officials announced earlier this week.

The certification was granted for Hoboken’s “commitment to sustainability efforts,” which includes progress in categories such as flood mitigation, energy efficiency and alternative transportation options, officials stated.

Mayor Ravinder Bhalla took pride in Hoboken’s new status during his State of the City speech on Tuesday. The designation also got a thumbs-up from former mayor Dawn Zimmer, who praised Bhalla’s administration for the accomplishment.

“Putting Hoboken on a sustainable path was a major priority of mine and I am proud to see Hoboken become New Jersey’s first LEED Gold-certified city,” Zimmer said.

According to a city news release:

“The LEED Gold rating for Hoboken was granted using the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Cities rating system. LEED for Cities enables Hoboken to measure and track sustainability metrics in energy and water use, waste generation, transportation, and community development (including education, health, prosperity, safety, and equitability).”

“Hoboken’s gold certification demonstrates that Hoboken has built a strong foundation for our environmental future,” Bhalla said. “This is an opportunity to both celebrate our resiliency efforts initiated by [former] Mayor Zimmer, and also to identify additional ways for Hoboken to lead the charge in combatting climate change.”

Bhalla recently announced that Hoboken will be adopting a Climate Action Plan, with the goal of lowering greenhouse gas emissions beyond the targets established by the Paris Climate Agreement.

The city’s strategic approach to climate adaptation and mitigation is outlined in the Green Building and Environmental Sustainability Element of the Hoboken Master Plan, he said.

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Photo: City of Hoboken