City Creek Center is going green.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' $1.5 billion downtown project is taking part in a pilot program of the U.S. Green Building Council that promotes environmentally responsible and sustainable development.

The program applies a new standard of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system to neighborhood development, not just single buildings. Projects can be recognized for construction and design methods that place a high priority on good health, the natural environment and quality of community life.

City Creek Center and the 204 other mixed-use developments in the U.S. taking part in the pilot program are employing new-urbanism practices by choosing locations and designing projects that encourage walkable communities and more efficient energy and water use.

In addition, the LDS Church's 20-acre mix of residential, retail and office space is one of 60 projects selected by USGBC to participate in a focus group to finalize the new LEED standard for neighborhood developments, said Dale Bills, spokesman for City Creek Reserve Inc., a real estate arm of the LDS Church.

"City Creek Center has agreed almost to be a guinea pig for developing LEED standards for this kind of project," Salt Lake Mayor Ralph Becker said.

Members of the Salt Lake City Council and other city officials have been encouraging CCRI and its development partner, Taubman Centers Inc., to seek LEED certification for new construction in the project since plans were unveiled in October 2006.

"I think it's great that they're moving in that direction," said City Council chairwoman Jill Remington Love. "It demonstrates that they're listening to us and trying to be partners with us in creating a vibrant downtown."

Bills said sustainable principles are being applied throughout City Creek Center's design, construction and operational plans.

"For example, more than 50 percent of demolition debris is being recycled," he said.

City Creek Center's application to take part in the pilot program, filed more than a year ago, went mostly unnoticed by those outside City Hall, overshadowed by more controversial elements of City Creek Center, such as a skybridge over Main Street connecting second levels of retail. After prolonged debate and controversy, the skybridge was approved.

Becker said the decision to seek LEED certification is yet another reason to applaud the LDS Church's investment in downtown Salt Lake City.

"Not only is this an enormous mixed-use project that has a lot of benefits, but it's also breaking new ground with energy and environmental design and use," he said.

Bills said CCRI also is hopeful that the project's residential towers individually will qualify for some level of LEED certification.