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McKinney: Unique by Nature, Green By Design

By
Real Estate Agent with Ebby Halliday Realtors

McKinney businesses, residents, schools and city government aren't simply following a trend toward green living and sustainable development - they are leading the way.

Businesses with operations in McKinney have led the environmentally sustainable development movement in McKinney by building offices using green building techniques and meeting stringent platinum standards for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification.

In 2006 , McKinney welcomed one of the nation's first privately developed LEED certified platinum office buildings,.  Built by a subsidiary of a Netherlands firm, Wereldhave, the McKinney Green Building is a $11.4 million structure that recycles rainwater and has carpeting made from old soft drink bottles.

McKinney is also home to one of the nation's two green Walmart Supercenters, as well as the Pat Lobb Toyota dealership - the first automotive dealership in the nation to earn LEED certification.

The McKinney Economic Development Corporation has continued to encourage green development by launching the Coalition for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology, or CREST, to develop ways to make the city a leader in sustainable technology.

McKinney leaders have embraced green initiatives, recently hiring the city's first Green Program Manager, heading the Office of Environmental Stewardship (OES) for the city.  She quickly formed the city Green Team to help develop mcKinney's Sustainabilty Strategic Plan (SSP).  The team of 30 city staff members provides a forum to explore the green initiatives currently under way and those that city staff would like to consider incorporating in the future.

Click here to read more about how McKinney is leading the way for a greener world. 

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