Green Grand Rapids

The Edge of Green

Fast Company magazine named Grand Rapids "America's Greenest City" - and it wasn't because of our fertile soil and long, sunny summer days.

Grand Rapids is a world leader in sustainability, described by the City Commission as "living today without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to live equally, as well, or better." Grand Rapids is blessed with abundant natural resources, and we are committed to protecting and preserving this very special environment.

When you vacation in Grand Rapids, you're directing your travel dollars to an environmentally responsible destination. Think of it as eco-friendly tourism!

Here are just a few of our green highlights:

• Grand Rapids has more LEED-certified buildings per capita than any other city in the country. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) spells out in detail what constitutes a "green building."
• The Grand Rapids Art Museum is the nation's first LEED-certified art museum. Other LEED firsts: hospital, YWCA, church, transit center, nursing home and private residence.
• Even our green spaces are greener - Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park achieved LEED certification for such features as a heat-reflective white rubber roof, water-saving irrigation systems and recycled building materials.
• The Rapid, our public transit system, features hybrid buses and the first "green roof" installed on a transit facility in the U.S.
• We were the first U.S. city to be recognized by the United Nations University as a Regional Center of Expertise in the education of sustainable development.
• The city obtains 20% of its power from renewable resources, with a goal of 100% by 2020.

More Information

Sustainable Grand Rapids

Community Sustainability Partnership