The National Capital Region LEEDs the Nation
by Emily English, USGBC-NCR
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its 2011 list of top 10 states for LEED-certified commercial and institutional green buildings per capita, based on the U.S. 2010 Census information. The District of Columbia leads the nation, with more than 31 square feet of LEED-certified space per person in 2011. Virginia and Maryland are also in the top ten with 2.42 and 2.07 square feet per person of LEED-certified space respectively.
"I'm proud that the District is the national leader on green building design, which is integral to my goal to make us the most sustainable city in the world," said Mayor Vincent C. Gray. "LEED-certified buildings and green design in general will play a crucial long-term role in safeguarding our future by conserving precious resources, paying dividends not only for the Earth's health, but also for the District's livability."
"This is a great accomplishment for the DC metropolitan area and a testament to the drive, commitment and leadership of our local municipalities and the development, design and property management community," said Mike Babcock, board chair of the National Capital Region Chapter of USGBC (USGBC-NCR). "Together, we are creating healthier, more efficient buildings that serve our communities and our planet."
"While we are proud of this achievement we realize there is still more to do and we hope to effectively guide the effort by engaging, educating and encouraging the dialogue around the value of sustainability, added Babcock."
"Looking past the bricks and mortar, people are at the heart of what buildings are all about," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, USGBC. "Examining the per capita value of LEED square footage in these states allows us to focus on what matters most - the human element of green buildings."
LEED, developed by USGBC in 2000, is the internationally recognized mark of green building excellence, with more than 44,000 projects commercial projects participating, comprising over 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 120 countries. In addition, more than 16,000 homes have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, with more than 67,000 more homes registered.
The National Capital Region Chapter of USGBC is advancing a sustainable, ecologically restorative and economically prosperous built environment here in the DC metropolitan area.
The full top ten list and additional information on the rankings can be found here.