Illinois has topped the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Top 10 States for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) list.
The list uses data from the 2010 U.S census, and includes commercial and institutional projects that received LEED certification in 2013 to determine which states have the most square feet of LEED-certified space per resident.
Illinois earned the top spot by certifying 171 projects, representing 2.29 square feet of LEED-certified space per resident.
“Both the public and private sectors in Illinois recognize that long-term investments in 21st century infrastructure should be done in ways that reduce energy consumption and protect the environment,” says Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.
Maryland earned the number two spot, with 2.20 square feet of LEED space per resident, while Virginia rounded out third with 2.11 square feet.
“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 people who use them every day,” says Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the USGBC. “As the economy recovers, green buildings continue to provide for jobs at every professional level and skill set from carpenters to architects.”
Oregon, North Carolina, Hawaii and Minnesota were all appeared on the list for the first time. America’s two most populous states, New York and California, shared the fifth spot, each certifying 1.95 square feet of space per resident.
The list also shows that LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance certifications accounted for 48 per cent of the total square footage certified in the top 10 states in 2013, while LEED Building Design and Construction made up 43 per cent of square footage, and LEED for Interior Design and Construction nine per cent.
Collectively, the states on the list saw the certification of 1,777 commercial and institutional projects in 2013, representing 226.8 million square feet of real estate.
