In an effort to lead by example in green living, Arvada City Council passed a resolution requiring new city buildings to meet sustainability requirements.

During its Aug. 6 meeting, Council unanimously passed a resolution requiring new city buildings 5,000 square feet and larger be built to meet construction guidelines laid out in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system.

“It’ll give us more efficient buildings from an environmental standpoint,” said Phil Hensley, manager of facilities for the city of Arvada. “We’ll be using less energy, and it will be helping the environment for staff. We’re trying to lead by example, and we’re hoping residents take that example and take action to be sustainable.”

To become LEED certified, buildings must be sustainable in nearly every aspect, from heating and cooling to the materials used, from lighting efficiency to more water-efficient landscaping, and bike racks outdoors to promote alternative transportation, said Jessica Prosser, the city’s sustainability coordinator.

“The entire site design has energy efficiency and the environment in mind,” she said. “You get different [LEED] points for different elements in the building.

The LEED requirement only applies to buildings built by the municipal government that are at least

5,000 square feet.

Prosser said larger building typically house a large number of people and have the biggest environmental and energy impacts.

The resolution also adopted the LEED requirements for existing buildings as the guidelines for operations, improvement and maintenance.

Prosser said existing buildings will only be required to meet LEED certification requirements if they undergo a major retrofit, such as gutting the building and completely redoing it.

Currently, only two buildings are planned that will follow the LEED guidelines for new construction; two police substations are budgeted to be built in 2013-14.