The U.S. Green Building Council 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
Washington, D.C. 18,954,022
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," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO
& 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," continued
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," said 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."
"Being in the top three is a testament to the diversity
of stakeholders from across Illinois who understand the significant
environmental, economic, and social benefits related to LEED
certification," said Doug Widener, Executive Director of the Illinois
Chapter of USGBC. "I applaud Illinois' diverse green building community on
this outstanding achievement."
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; 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; 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; the LEED-Platinum Hotel Skylar in Syracuse, N.Y.;
and the LEED Platinum Marquette Plaza in Minneapolis.
In December 2011, USGBC announced that LEED-certified
existing buildings outpaced its 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.
For the full list of LEED-certified projects visit:
usgbc.org/press.
