Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its annual list of top ten states with the most square footage of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green buildings per capita. Currently in its eighth iteration, the list is based on collected U.S. census data from 2010, and includes commercial and institutional green building projects that were certified in 2017. LEED is the most widely used green building ratings system in the world and encourages industry professionals to create efficient built spaces that use less resources such as water and energy, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2017, the state of Massachusetts remained on top for the second year in a row with 4.48 square feet of LEED-certified space per resident. The Bay State is followed by New York (with 3.39 square feet), which ranked fourth in 2016; and Illinois (with 3.38 square feet), which has remained firmly in third place since 2016. It is important to note that because Washington, D.C., is technically considered a federal district and not a state, it is unable to be ranked as first on the list with a whopping 39.83 square feet of space per resident. Earlier this year, the District became the first LEED Platinum-certified city in the world. Hawaii and Maryland completed this year's top five with 3.32 and 2.75 square feet per resident, respectively; Minnesota, Georgia, California, Virginia, and Colorado rounded out the list.
The USGBC reports that the international rating system certified 2,647 projects across the nation in 2017, a drop from 2016's 3,366 projects. However, on a grander scale, LEED has certified over 40,000 projects worldwide for a combined 6.5 billion square feet of space. An additional 51,000 projects are also in the pipeline for certification in the coming years. Many of this year's top performers utilized LEED v4's Arc system, an online platform that tracks ongoing performance in various categories including energy, water, waste, transportation, and human experience.
“These states showcase exceptional leadership and by using LEED, businesses, property owners and policy makers in these states are strategically addressing some of the most critical social and environmental concerns of our time," said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of the USGBC, in a press release. "LEED is a proven economic development tool and method of meeting carbon reduction targets, reducing waste, energy and water consumption, and more. By measuring success on a per capita level each year, this list reflects the personal and individual impact of these states’ efforts." Visit the USGBC website for the entire list of rankings.
Check out the USGBC's slideshow below:
