TOWSON, MD—County Executive Johnny Olszewski on Tuesday issued an Executive Order requiring all newly constructed Baltimore County facilities or major renovations to be completed to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standard or higher.

Requiring LEED Silver standards will ensure future construction and renovation projects incorporate sustainable elements that will generate lower costs over the long-term due to energy efficient design.

“We have a responsibility to take action today so the next generation inherits a more sustainable future,” Olszewski said. “Sustainable building design is the responsible thing to do for our environment and for our pocketbook.”

The U.S. Green Building Council created LEED to define green building and encourage more entities to pursue clean, sustainable design. The standards provide a “framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost saving green buildings.”

The full Executive Order can be viewed below.

Click to access executiveorder2021-005.pdf