Top 10 states for LEED green buildings

U.S. Green Building Council releases list of top U.S. states for LEED-certified projects in 2011.

The top LEED states per capita.

The U.S. Green Building Council (

USGBC) released its 2011 list of the 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, with Colorado being the leading state, with 2.74 square feet per person in 2011.

Other top states include Illinois, Virginia and Washington, with 2.69, 2.42 and 2.18 square feet of LEED-certified space per person, respectively. The top LEED states per capita, including the District of Columbia:

LEED is the internationally recognized mark of green building excellence, with more than 44,000 commercial projects participating, comprising more than 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.

"Our local green building chapters from around the country have been instrumental in accelerating the adoption of green building policies and initiatives that drive construction locally," said

Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. "These states should be recognized for working to reinvent their local building landscapes with buildings that enliven and bolster the health of our environment, communities and local economies."

For the full list of LEED-certified projects visit:www.usgbc.org/press.

Source: USGBC