Rochester is First City in Minnesota to Earn Important Environmental Achievement

Rochester may be Minnesota's third-largest city, but we're the first city in the state to do this... which is pretty cool.

Sure Rochester is home to Minnesota's largest employer (gee, who could that be?), and we regularly lead the way when it comes to health care and national quality-of-life lists. But did you know Rah-Rah-Rochester (I just can't stop using that now-outdated slogan!) is also the first city in the Land of 10,000 Lakes to be named a certified gold LEED city?

LEED is short for 'Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,' and Rochester was notified it achieved Gold LEED certification last December, but representatives from U.S. Green Building Council (the group that is in charge of keeping track of and certifying LEED activities) officially presented Mayor Kim Norton with Rochester's gold certification at City Hall on Monday.

According to the Rochester city website, the USGBC commended the Med City in achieving its gold LEED certification, saying, 'Cities and communities that achieve LEED certification are lowering carbon emissions, creating a healthier environment and striving to improve the quality of life for its residents. Rochester, Minnesota is setting a standard for what it means to be a high performer and we applaud their efforts and achievements,' the site noted.

So, yeah. Good going, Rochester. Way to lead Minnesota... again!

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