1652349008649 I 0511 Usgbcvirtualtour

USGBC Releases List of Top 10 States for LEED Green Buildings

Jan. 27, 2012
The District of Columbia leads the nation, with more than 31 square feet of LEED-certified space per person, with Colorado leading the states.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently released its 2011 list of top 10 states for LEED-certified commercial and institutional green buildings per capita, based on the U.S. 2010 Census information. The District of Columbia leads the nation, with more than 31 square feet of LEED-certified space per person in 2011, with Colorado being the leading state, with 2.74 square feet per person in 2011.

Other top states include Illinois, Virginia and Washington, with 2.69, 2.42 and 2.18 square feet of LEED-certified space per person, respectively. The top LEED states per capita, including the District of Columbia:

 
 
Sq. ft. of space to earn
LEED-certification in 2011
 
 Per capita
 District of Columbia  18,951,022   31.50
 Colorado  13,803,113  2.74
 Illinois  34,567,585  2.69
 Virginia  19,358,193  2.42
 Washington  14,667,558  2.18
 Maryland  11,970,869  2.07
 Massachusetts  13,087,625  2.00
 Texas  50,001,476  1.99
 California  71,551,296  1.92
 New York  36,538,981  1.89
 Minnesota  9,591,445  1.81

"Looking past the bricks and mortar, people are at the heart of what buildings are all about," says Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. "Examining the per capita value of LEED square footage in these states allows us to focus on what matters most—the human element of green buildings."

LEED is the internationally recognized mark of green building excellence, with more than 44,000 projects commercial projects participating, comprising over 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 120 countries. In addition, more than 16,000 homes have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, with more than 67,000 more homes registered.

"Our local green building chapters from around the country have been instrumental in accelerating the adoption of green building policies and initiatives that drive construction locally," continues Fedrizzi. "These states should be recognized for working to reinvent their local building landscapes with buildings that enliven and bolster the health of our environment, communities and local economies."

"This is a great accomplishment for the D.C. metropolitan region and a testament to the drive, commitment and leadership of all those who live, work and play in our community," says Mike Babcock, board chair of the National Capital Region Chapter of USGBC. "We also realize there is still more to do and hope to effectively guide the effort by engaging, educating and encouraging the dialogue around the value of sustainability."

Notable newly certified projects in 2011 include the Treasury Building in Washington, D.C., which is distinguished as the oldest LEED-certified project in the world; the LEED Platinum Casey Middle School in Boulder, Colo.; the iconic Wrigley Building in Chicago, Ill.; Frito-Lay in Lynchburg, Va., which earned LEED Gold for the operations and maintenance of an existing building; the LEED Silver Hard Rock Café in Seattle, Wash.; Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Md.; Yawkey Distribution Center of The Greater Boston Food Bank in Mass.; the LEED Gold Austin Convention Center in Texas; SFO's LEED Gold Terminal 2 in San Francisco, Calif.; the LEED-Platinum Hotel Skylar in Syracuse, N.Y.; and the LEED Platinum Marquette Plaza in Minneapolis, Minn.

In December 2011, USGBC announced that LEED-certified existing buildings outpaced their newly built counterparts by 15 million square feet on a cumulative basis. A focus on heightened building performance through green operations and maintenance is essential to cost-effectively driving improvements in the economy and the environment.

Sponsored Recommendations

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of I+S Design, create an account today!