by Brianna Crandall — February 9, 2018 — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released last week the annual list of the Top 10 States for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the organization’s widely used green building rating system. The list ranks states in terms of certified square feet (sq. ft.) per resident in 2017.
The list draws attention to states throughout America that are making significant strides in sustainable design, construction and transformation at the building level, and opens up conversations around community and city-level accomplishments in sustainable development, says USGBC. LEED-certified spaces reportedly use less energy and water, save money, reduce carbon emissions, and create a healthier environment for occupants and the community at large.
Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC, stated:
As the U.S. Green Building Council celebrates 25 years of market leadership and growth, we know how important green building practices and certifications are to ensuring a more sustainable future for all. 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.
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. We commend the community leaders, businesses and government bodies in all ten of these states for their ongoing efforts and dedication to a better quality of life for everyone.
Now in its eighth year, the list is based on 2010 US Census data and includes commercial and institutional green building projects that were certified throughout 2017. Massachusetts retained its top position for the second year in a row, with 130 LEED certifications representing 4.48 square feet of LEED-certified space per resident, the highest since 2010.
The mid-Atlantic region continues to show strong regional leadership, with both Maryland and Virginia returning to the list for the seventh year running, points out USGBC. Also notable, Washington, DC, which is not included in the official list of top states due to its status as a federal territory, tops the nation with 39.83 sq. ft. of space per resident certified in 2017.
With Georgia, Hawaii and Minnesota all returning to the list for the first time since 2014, it is clear that market uptake for LEED is strong nationwide and not limited to any particular region or corridor, notes USGBC. Illinois and Colorado are the only states to have made the list every year since the inception of the ranking in 2010. This year, Illinois comes in third with 3.38 sq. ft. per capita, and Colorado places 10th with 2.27 sq. ft. per capita. The 2017 list has the highest average square footage per resident per state since 2010 (2.9).
The full ranking is as follows:
|
2017 Top 10 States for LEED |
||||
|
Rank |
State |
Certified Gross Square Footage (GSF) |
GSF Per Capita |
Number of Projects Certified |
|
1 |
MA* |
29,338,378 |
4.48 |
130 |
|
2 |
NY* |
65,749,387 |
3.39 |
192 |
|
3 |
IL* |
43,363,065 |
3.38 |
135 |
|
4 |
HI |
4,519,757 |
3.32 |
16 |
|
5 |
MD* |
15,854,679 |
2.75 |
105 |
|
6 |
MN |
13,018,056 |
2.45 |
47 |
|
7 |
GA |
23,638,051 |
2.44 |
71 |
|
8 |
CA* |
89,258,519 |
2.4 |
475 |
|
9 |
VA* |
18,589,482 |
2.32 |
152 |
|
10 |
CO* |
11,397,964 |
2.27 |
76 |
|
** |
DC |
23,966,817 |
39.83 |
139 |
*Included in 2016 Top 10 States for LEED list
**Washington, DC is not ranked as it is a federal district, not a state
USGBC calculates the list using per capita figures 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.
In 2017, LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance (LEED O+M) (the most relevant system to facilities managers) was once again the most popular rating system within the Top 10 States, representing more than 50 percent of the total square footage certified. LEED for Building Design and Construction (LEED BD+C) was the second most popular, and LEED for Interior Design and Construction (LEED ID+C) was the third most popular rating system.
A sample of notable projects that certified in 2017, demonstrating the variety of buildings that earn certification, include:
- Massachusetts: Boston Public Market, a 28,000 sq. ft. indoor, year-round marketplace with 40 regional food vendors in Boston, achieved LEED Silver;
- New York: Animal Haven Adoption Center, a 6,700 sq. ft. shelter and adoption center for abandoned animals in New York City, achieved LEED Silver;
- Illinois: Chicago Children’s Theatre, a 15,300 sq. ft. mixed use education and performing arts facility in Chicago, achieved LEED Gold;
- Hawaii: The Moana Surfrider Resort by Westin, a 605,400 sq. ft. resort and spa in Honolulu, achieved LEED Certified;
- Maryland: MGM National Harbor, a 1.3 million sq. ft. casino resort in Oxon Hill, achieved LEED Gold;
- Minnesota: U.S. Bank Stadium, a 1.8 million sq. ft. professional sports facility in Minneapolis and host of the 2018 Super Bowl, achieved LEED Gold;
- Georgia: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a 1.9 million sq. ft. professional sports stadium in Atlanta, achieved LEED Platinum;
- California: LA Lakers Headquarters, a 96,800 sq. ft. commercial office building in El Segundo, achieved LEED Platinum;
- Virginia: The Rotunda at the University of Virginia, a 38,500 sq. ft. historic multi-use space in Charlottesville, achieved LEED Silver; and
- Colorado: Colorado University Sustainability, Energy and Environmental Complex, a 140,000 sq. ft. multipurpose education facility in Boulder, achieved LEED Gold.
Collectively, 1,399 commercial and institutional projects achieved LEED certification within the Top 10 States in 2017, representing 314.7 million square feet of real estate. Nationwide, 2,647 commercial and institutional projects achieved LEED certification in 2017, representing 484.6 million sq. ft. of real estate.
According to USGBC, more than 40,000 commercial and institutional projects representing more than 6.5 billion sq. ft. of space have been LEED-certified to date worldwide, with another 51,000 projects representing 13 billion sq. ft. in the pipeline for certification. LEED’s newest version, LEED v4, features increased technical rigor; new market sector adaptations for data centers, warehouses and distribution centers, hospitality, existing schools, existing retail and mid-rise residential projects; and a simplified submission process supported by a robust and intuitive technology platform.
Tracking ongoing building performance is a growing priority, notes USGBC, and a number of projects in the Top 10 States achieved certification through the Arc online performance platform, which uses data to measure and improve sustainability performance. Arc delivers a performance score based on building data and action-oriented strategies across energy, water, waste, transportation and human experience.
See the LEED infographic for the Top 10 States for LEED in 2017 on the USGBC Web site.
