Sustainable Development

McKinney’s brand, “Unique by Nature,” not only reflects the natural beauty of McKinney but also the balance of history and progress, nature and development, big-city convenience and small-town charm. A large part of the city’s identity involves sustaining its natural resources in the face of rapid growth.

The City of McKinney has implemented numerous sustainability initiatives to operate more efficiently and provide excellent quality of life. In 2009, the Office for Environmental Stewardship was established.

McKinney Economic Development Corporation considers additional incentives for qualifying projects with a “sustainable” component.

 


McKinney has long been a leader in sustainability.
 

  • Home Energy Americas (with Vector Systems) – US Headquarters of Home Energy International, producer of integrated renewable energy solutions for businesses
     
  • Emission Solutions – manufacturer of natural gas engines for trucks and buses that earned its 2010 certifications from both the EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB)
     
  • Pat Lobb Toyota, the world’s first LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) automobile dealership,
     
  • "The McKinney Experiment" a Walmart test store for environmentally friendly processes and technologies, is one of only two such experimental Walmart stores in the world.
     
  • The McKinney Green Building, the country’s first privately developed LEED platinum office building
     
  • IESI is building the first fully automated, LEED certified, “green” materials recovery facility (MRF) for the processing of commingled residential and commercial recyclable materials. (opening fall 2009).
     
  • Hie-Electronics - Winner of the 2009 North American Data Storage Technologies Green Excellence Award in Technology Innovation.
     
  • Independent Bank has renovated its headquarters building as LEED-certified.
     
  • El Dorado Motors has long utilized environmentally-sensitive practices and facilities at its dealership
     
  • S&S Wood Molders - first Texas-based wood molding manufacturer to be certified with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
     
  • McKinney ISD - Roy Lee Walker Elementary, opened in 2000 and was the first sustainable design school in Texas and is widely regarded as the most energy-efficient and environmentally sound school ever built. Since that time, McKinney has become home to four environmentally friendly schools.