USGBC Releases the Top 10 States in Nation for LEED Green Building
The U.S. Green Building Council (
USGBC) recently released its ranking
of the Top 10 States for LEED, the
world’s most widely used and recognized green building rating system.
The list highlights the regions around
the country that are at the forefront of
sustainable building design and transformation. Utilizing less energy, LEED-certified spaces save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce
carbon emissions; and contribute to
a healthier environment for residents,
workers and the larger community.
“The list of the Top 10 States for
LEED is a continuing indicator of the
widespread recognition of our national
imperative to create healthier, high-
performing buildings that are better
for the environment as well as the peo-
ple who use them every day,” said Rick
Fedrizzi, president, CEO and found-
ing chair, USGBC. “As the economy
recovers, green buildings continue to
provide for jobs at every professional
level and skill set from carpenters to
architects. I congratulate everyone in
these states whose contributions to
resources saved, toxins eliminated,
greenhouse gases avoided, and hu-
man health enhanced help guarantee
a prosperous future for our planet and
the people who call it home.”
The per-capita list is based on 2010
U.S. Census data and includes com-
mercial and institutional green building
projects that were certified throughout
2013. Among states, Illinois moved into
the top position for LEED, certifying
171 projects representing 2. 29 square
feet of LEED space per resident.
“Both the public and private sec-
tors in Illinois recognize that long-term
investments in 21st century infrastruc-
ture should be done in ways that re-
duce energy consumption and protect
the environment,” said Illinois Gov. Pat
Quinn. “Illinois is proud to be the na-
tion’s green buildings leader, and we
are proof that a smaller environmental
footprint can help us step toward en-
ergy independence.”
The mid-Atlantic region reigned in
2013 with Washington, D.C., Maryland
and Virginia all topping the list. Wash-
ington, D.C., had 106 LEED-certified
projects representing 32. 45 square
feet of space per resident. Maryland
and Virginia followed Illinois in the sec-
ond and third positions, respectively,
certifying 2. 20 and 2. 11 square feet of
LEED space per resident in 2013.
Newcomers to the top 10 states list
from 2012 include:
• Oregon, which certified 47 proj-
ects representing 1. 83 square feet
per resident in 2013;
• North Carolina, with 1. 80 square
feet per resident;
• Hawaii, with 1. 71 square feet per
resident; and
• Minnesota, with 1. 55 square feet
per resident.
New York and California, two of the
most populous states in the nation,
tied for fifth place, with each certifying
1. 95 square feet of space per resident
in 2013.
USGBC calculates the list using
per-capita figures as a measure of the
human element of green building, allowing for a fair comparison of the
level of green building taking place
among states with significant differences in population and, accordingly,
number of overall buildings.
Reflecting the continued trend of
LEED existing buildings outpacing
their newly built counterparts, in 2013
the LEED for Building Operations and
Maintenance rating system accounted
for 48 percent of total square footage
certified in these states. This compares
to 43 percent of square footage certi-
fied under LEED for Building Design
and Construction and 9 percent certi-
fied under LEED for Interior Design
and Construction.
Collectively, 1,777 commercial and
institutional projects became LEED
certified within the top 10 states
in 2013, representing 226.8 million
square feet of real estate. Worldwide,
4,642 projects were certified in 2013,
representing 596.8 million square feet.
Cumulatively, more than 20,000
projects representing 2. 9 billion
square feet of space have been LEED-certified worldwide, with another
37,000 projects representing 7. 6 billion square feet in the pipeline for
certification. USGBC launched LEED
v4, the newest version of the rating
system, in the fall of 2013. The latest
version continues to raise the bar for
the entire green building industry,
which McGraw-Hill Construction projects could be worth up to $248 billion
in the U.S. by 2016. LEED v4 features
increased technical rigor; new market
sector adaptations for data centers,
warehouses and distribution centers,
hospitality, existing schools, existing
retail, and midrise residential projects;
and a simplified submittal process
supported by a robust and intuitive
technology platform.
Rank State Projects certified
in 2013
Square feet
certified in 2013
Per-capita
square footage
1 Illinois 171 29,415,284 2. 29
2 Maryland 119 12,696,429 2. 20
3 Virginia 160 16,868,693 2. 11
4 Massachusetts 101 13,684,430 2.09
5 (tie) New York 259 37,839,395 1. 95
5 (tie) California 595 72,729,476 1. 95
6 Oregon 47 6,991,942 1. 83
7 North Carolina 133 17,183,099 1. 80
8 Colorado 124 8,894,187 1. 77
9 Hawaii 17 2,323,379 1. 71
10 Minnesota 51 8,205,155 1. 55
* Washington, D.C. 106 19,524,216 32. 45
