The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced its list of top 10 states for LEED green building, based on the number of LEED-certified square feet per person. Illinois slipped from the top spot that it held last year to second place, behind Colorado.
Illinois has continually been among the top states for the number of buildings that earn LEED certification every year, and has been a part of the top 10 states for LEED list every single year since the list’s inception. The state certified 3.85 square feet of LEED space per resident in 2019, representing 121 projects and more than 49.3 million gross square feet of space.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world with more than 100,000 projects engaged. This year’s top states are home to more than 105 million people, including more than 80,000 LEED green building professionals with the skills to support the sustainable transformation of buildings.
“As we embark on a new decade, the USGBC community is focused on helping more projects get on the path to LEED certification and a more sustainable future,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. “Over the last year, the Top 10 states have certified projects that serve as incredible examples of how green building can create more sustainable and resilient spaces that improve our living standard. There is still much work to be done, but the progress made across these states shows us that our work is having a tangible impact on people’s lives. As we enter our next chapter, we are committed to helping more buildings, cities and communities improve their sustainability performance through LEED.”
LEED-certified projects support personal health and well-being, as well as use less energy and water, reduce carbon emissions and save money for families, businesses and taxpayers. The Top 10 list is based on 2010 U.S. Census data and includes commercial and institutional green building projects certified throughout 2019.
