Search continues for O.C.’s greenest city
Costa Mesa and Newport Beach are out, but Anaheim, Huntington Beach and Irvine remain in the running for the most eco-friendly city in Orange County, according to the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Orange County chapter.
The winning city will be named Jan. 26 at Hurley’s headquarters in Costa Mesa.
The list was whittled from 10 contenders the USGBC named earlier this year. Newport, Costa Mesa and Aliso Viejo were among the cities listed.
The cities were questioned on a number of categories, including their long-term environmental plan, incentives for bringing in environmentally friendly “green” buildings, their assistance in green development and their use of renewable energy.
City staff members were also quizzed on their understanding of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.
Judges examined each city’s website for information about sustainability programs and conducted interviews with city officials.
In January, officials from Anaheim, Huntington and Irvine will present their overview of sustainability and the programs that led to their success.
The USGBC’s Orange County chapter is made up of designers, investors, manufacturers, architects, engineers and builders who are all focused on building sustainable, green communities in the county.
Twitter: @JosephSerna