In its annual ranking highlighting statewide growth in sustainable building design, USGBC has named Massachusetts as the top state in the nation for LEED in 2016. Rising from third place to first place since last year’s ranking, Massachusetts attributes its success to 136 LEED-certified projects representing 3.73 square feet of certified space per resident, as well as achieving LEED Silver at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, the location of Greenbuild 2017.
Colorado, Illinois, New York and California follow Massachusetts to round out the top five in the ranking. Now in its seventh year of the assessment, USGBC assesses the total square feet of LEED-certified space per resident based on U.S. Census data, which includes commercial and institutional green building projects certified during 2016.
Despite lacking statehood status and thus a ranking, Washington, D.C. received distinction for its 29.04 square feet of LEED space per resident, which far exceeds that of any state.
Together, the 1,819 commercial and institutional buildings in states that achieved top 10 status in 2016 represent over 309 million gross square feet of real estate. Across the U.S., 3,366 projects achieved LEED certification in 2016, adding up to more than 470 million square feet.
“LEED guides our buildings, cities, communities and neighborhoods to become more resource- and energy-efficient, healthier for occupants and more competitive in the marketplace,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO of USGBC. “The green building movement continues to evolve with advancements in technology, benchmarking and transparency, and the states on this list are leading the way toward a more sustainable future.”
