Adding to its growing list of firsts, Levi’s® Stadium has become the first stadium in the United States that is home to a professional football team to receive LEED Gold certification as new construction. The LEED rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.

“The Bay Area is a world leader in sustainable efforts, and achieving  LEED Gold certification for Levi’s Stadium is another example of our desire to showcase all that is special about the region,” said San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York. “Our design team, partners and contractors have helped Levi’s Stadium become the environmentally responsible building we had envisioned.”

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. In order to receive LEED certification, building projects must satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Levi’s® Stadium achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED Gold status is earned by accumulating 39 to 51 points on the rating system and Levi’s® Stadium had registered a total of 41 upon opening.

“Levi’s Stadium’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and Levi’s Stadium serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish.”

LEED is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. More than 60,000 commercial and institutional projects are currently participating in LEED, comprising 11.2 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and more than 154 countries.

“Achieving this milestone shows the dedication and commitment to building Levi’s Stadium in a responsible way,” said Chip Bergh, president and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. “Innovation and sustainability are two focus areas for both of our organizations. Today’s announcement is just another reason why we’re so pleased to be partners with the 49ers.”

Designed by HNTB and constructed by Turner/Devcon, Levi’s® Stadium embodies innovative elements found throughout Silicon Valley. From the 1,000-plus state-of-the-art solar elements found throughout the building, including the three solar array-covered NRG Energy Bridges, to its automatic sensors and high-efficient energy management system, Levi’s® Stadium was designed to be one of the most compelling sports and entertainment venues in the country, all the while maintaining a disciplined green approach to sustainable design elements.

Levi’s® Stadium’s green features were designed to allow the venue to achieve net zero energy performance, enabling the 10 scheduled 49ers home games per season to be completely powered by the year-round collection of solar energy.

“Achieving this LEED Gold certification, a first for a stadium in the U.S., is a sterling achievement that demonstrates remarkable leadership in environmental design and construction for Levi’s Stadium, the San Francisco  49ers, NRG and all other parties involved,” said David Crane, President and CEO of NRG Energy. “It is the latest example of how the use of distributed solar power can deliver both environmental and economic benefits to customers of all sizes, connecting them to the growing trend of sustainability in our society.”

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