The San Diego Community College District was honored with the Green Community College Leadership Award at the Green California Schools and Community Colleges Summit on Oct. 29 according to a news release from the college district.

This award acknowledges achievements in a variety of fields from green building, energy efficiency to curriculum.

“The San Diego Community College District is dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint and taking the lead on sustainable initiatives and we are honored to be recognized for our efforts at this statewide conference,” Christopher Manis, vice chancellor of facilities management of the college district, said in the news release.

The college district has implemented several strategies to reduce its carbon footprint installing rooftop gardens, using photovoltaic systems, thermal energy storage and more.

The district is on its way to obtain 43 LEED certifications, 15 gold, 25 silver, one platinum and two LEED certified buildings thanks to the Board of Trustees approing its Green Building Policy in 2003. According to the California Center for Sustainable Energy, the San Diego Community College solar installations have produced a little over 13.5 kilowatt hours of electricity.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED is a worldwide system created by the U.S Green Building Council, used to rate the design, construction, operation and maintenance of gree building, homes and neighborhoods.

Racquel Palmese, managing editor of Green Technology magazine, which sponsored the event, commented that they were very impressed with all the efforts the district has taken to achieve energy saving and that it deserved the recognition.