Green Communities

The Atlanta Regional Commission’s Green Communities  is a voluntary certification program that recognizes the efforts of local governments and communities towards sustainability across different measures. The City of Sandy Springs was an early participant in the program and obtained in 2019 the Gold level certification. Recertification is due May 2023. 

The use of durable and renewable materials and cutting-edge technology for the construction of City Springs that houses City Hall and the Performing Arts Center accounts in large part for reaching this level of excellence. 

Green Communities recognized Sandy Springs’ commitments under each of the following categories:
Category    
Green Building: 10 out of 40
Energy Efficiency: 45 out of 45
Green Power: 15 out of 25
Water Use Reduction and Efficiency:  30  out of  50
Trees and Greenspace:  25  out of  60
Transportation and Air Quality: 65  out of  85
Recycling and Waste Reduction: 45  out of  60
Land Use:  25 out of  35
Education:  5 out of  30
Innovation:  20 out of  20
Total:  290 out of 460

The innovative wayfinding system in the parking deck at City Springs, the partnership with Trees Atlanta that increases the canopy on both public and private property, the pledge to reduce the use of paper (saving approximately 26,000 pages annually!) and the retrofit of flooded properties at Windsor Meadows Park earned the maximum points allowable for innovation. Other notable measures include incentives for the construction of green buildings and a demonstration green infrastructure project (rain garden at Marsh Creek). 

To share comments and ideas, please send us a message at sustainability@sandyspringsga.gov