Atlanta has the highest percentage of “green” buildings in the U.S. and Canada, according to an index released this week. The Green Cities Index analyzed nine categories of environmental sustainability in 27 cities. It was produced by Economist magazine’s “Intelligence Unit,” and commissioned by Siemens.
In the overall rankings, Atlanta was 21st (San Francisco, Vancouver and New York were the top three). But the report says Atlanta tops other cities with the highest percentage of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified buildings. Atlanta had a major building boom last decade, and many new buildings were LEED certified, such as 55 Allen Plaza downtown, to name but one.
Atlanta ranked only eighth in the building category, however, after other “green” factors were considered. Seattle ranked first in that category. Atlanta didn’t crack the top 10 in any other category.
Another finding of the index, which is in its fifth year, is that wealthier cities on the coasts tended to be greener.
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