Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its ninth annual list of top 10 states for LEED-certified projects. According to the Washington, D.C.–based organization, the list “ranks states based on the number of LEED-certified square feet per person … to allow for a fair comparison of the level of green building taking place among states with significant differences in population and number of overall buildings.”
Topping the 2018 list is Illinois, which certified 172 green building projects, an equivalent of 5.31 square feet of space per resident. According to the USBGC, Illinois last claimed the top spot back in 2015. Other states (in descending order) on the list are Massachusetts, Washington, New York, Texas, Colorado, Hawaii, Virginia, California, and Maryland. Of these, all but Georgia and Minnesota also appeared on last year’s ranking.
“Over the past 25 years, the U.S. Green Building Council, its member companies, and the green building community have come together to make our planet stronger, greener, and more sustainable through LEED,” said USGBC president and CEO Mahesh Ramanujam in the press release. “These Top 10 states are examples of how we can create lasting, measurable change and improve the quality of life for everyone in our communities.”
Lara Swimmer
Fire Station 22, SeattleThis 10,030-square-foot, LEED Platinum–certified fire station was designed with a focus on water conservation and well-being of its fire-fighters.
Courtesy Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital
Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, Lake Forest, Ill.This LEED Silver hospital was designed to optimize energy efficiency with a focus on enhancing the human experience.
Courtesy Built Work Photography/Meghan Montgomery
DATA 1 Fremont Office Building, SeattleThe design behind this LEED Gold office building was inspired by the comfort and productivity of its residents.
In total, these states have certified more than 468 million gross square feet of space, which includes schools, office buildings, and healthcare facilities.
The world’s first LEED Platinum city, Washington, D.C. does not appear on the ranking because it is technically a federal territory and not a state. However, according to the USGBC, if the nation’s capital was considered, it would easily secure the foremost position on the list: In 2018, the district certified 145 projects totaling 61.74 square feet per resident.
