By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

August 7, 2024 (San Diego) --When the County broke ground last month on its seventh Crisis Stabilization Unit in El Cajon—a place to give people in the midst of crisis a calm place to recover—it wasn’t just a boon for behavioral health. It was also a boost for the environment, sustainability and thwarting climate change in San Diego County.

That’s because when the building opens next year it will be the County’s 68th to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED environmental standards. LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.”

It will also be the County’s 11th “Zero Net Energy” building, meaning it will produce more electrical energy than it uses—thanks to solar rooftop panels, ample use of natural lighting, air circulation and other green amenities.