INFOGRAPHIC: USGBC's Top 10 Leed-ing States

by JOHN GREGERSON | Feb 11, 2016

Its finances may be drowning in red ink, but Illinois is still the greenest state in the nation, according to the U.S. Green Building Council's latest ranking of the Top 10 States for LEED. The list measures the amount of LEED-certified commercial and institutional space put-in-place on a per-capita basis last year. Illinois claimed the title for a third consecutive year and, along with Colorado, is one of only two states to have ranked among the nation's Top 10 every year since 2010, when USGBC inaugurated the ranking.

Last year, Illinois added 161 LEED-certified projects, totaling nearly 44 million sq ft, or roughly 3.43 sq ft per resident. In contrast, California placed seventh, but added nearly double the amount of square footage, spread over almost four times as many projects. However, it is also home to more than 37 million residents, triple that of Illinois' population, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.

Among USGBC's Top 10, 1,633 commercial and institutional projects received LEED certification last year, representing some 274.9 million gross sq ft of real estate. Worldwide, 4,837 projects, totaling 818.9 million sq ft, received LEED designation in 2015.

“Green construction is quickly outpacing conventional construction in the U.S.,” says USGBC CEO and Founding Chair Rick Fedrizzi. It also is moving West. New to the list is Utah and returning to it after a three-year hiatus are Texas, Washington and Nevada. "By recognizing these states... we are celebrating the green building professionals, architects, business, policy and community leaders who work tirelessly to design and develop innovative solutions toward a healthier, more sustainable future."

Meantime, combined green activity in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC confirm the mid-Atlantic region's status as the epicenter of sustainable design. Had it been a state, Washington DC would have far outpaced Illinois, adding 19.30 sq ft of LEED-certified space per resident.