Scottsdale mayor to receive award for city's green efforts

SCOTTSDALE - Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross will be in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to receive the Mayor's Energy Leadership Award at the 18th annual Energy Efficiency Forum.

"This is an honor for our entire community, our citizen board and committee members, staff and management and my fellow City Council colleagues," Manross said. "Successes like this are not accomplished by one individual alone; it takes a team of caring, passionate and committed citizens, staff and policymakers. I dedicate this award to them."

The forum is co-sponsored by the United States Energy Association and Johnson Controls Inc., a company that specializes in green building.

In 2005, Scottsdale became one of the first cities in the nation to set a goal for all new municipal buildings to meet the "gold" level of leadership in energy and environmental design, the LEED certification issued by the United States Green Building Council.

The council sets standards in five areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

In May, Scottsdale's new Granite Reef Senior Center met the LEED certification and others are expected to receive the same certification.

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, chairman this year of the National Governors Association, said Scottsdale's focus on green building sets a "great example" for other cities in the nation.