Massachusetts, Washington and Illinois lead the U.S. Green Building Council’s Top 10 States for LEED ranking, reflecting gross square footage of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified projects per capita. Across the three states, more than 60 percent of certifications were office, healthcare, higher education and K-12 projects. While not ranked due to status other than a state, the District of Columbia eclipses Massachusetts’ space per capita metric by nearly 14 fold, 39.53 versus 2.91, and project total, 129 versus 76.
TOP 10 STATES FOR 2020 LEED-CERTIFIED PROJECTS
This year, USGBC also ranks states according to LEED credential holders, starting with California (26,906), New York (12,575) and Texas (10,474). Collectively, the 2020 Top 10 States ranking represents 1,171 certified buildings and spaces, and 100,000-plus green building professionals trained in certification protocol. While offices, education and healthcare projects comprise a majority of 2020 LEED certifications, warehouse, distribution center, multifamily and retail developments represented almost 20 percent. Nearly half of all projects were certified Gold, indicating a commitment to a high level of practice within the four-level (Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum) rating system.
“If we are to rebuild an economy that supports our health and planet, we must lead with changing the way we design and build,” says USGBC CEO Mahesh Ramanujam. “Last year was a stark reminder that the quality of our buildings impacts the quality of our life. Looking ahead, people want to trust that the spaces they occupy are good for them and their communities, and LEED has always been a tool to support those goals.”