Conducted by the U.S Green Building Council or USGBC, the top ten states for LEED survey rank Illinois as the number one state to design, operate and construct the most sustainable buildings in 2013.
“In the face of the extraordinary global challenge of climate change, our national imperative to create resource-efficient and cost effective green buildings has never been greater,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO, and founding chair of USGBC. “Illinois has a strong base of dedicated individuals who are using LEED to transform its built infrastructure into high-performing spaces that promote the health of our planet and the people who use these buildings each and every day.”
The survey is based on the per-capita of square feet and 2010’s U.S Census data, which include certified green building projects conducted in 2013, Illinois represented 29, 415, 284 sq ft. of real estate and had a certification of 171 projects.
“Illinois national ranking is the result of the robust network of businesses committed to sustainability working together with elected officials who understand the benefits of green building,” said Brain Imus, an executive director of the Chicago-based USGBC Illinois chapter. “It’s great to see passion from so many people making an impact and moving Illinois closer to the goal of everyone living, working, and learning in a green and healthy building.”
Notable projects that certified Illinois as number 1:
* The Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie, LEED Gold
* Choices Mental Health Facility in Ottawa, LEED Platinum
* 300 North LaSalle, a 57-story, 1.3 million-square-foot tower in Chicago developed and managed by USGBC Platinum Member Hines, LEED Platinum
* The Caterpillar Visitors Center in Peoria, LEED Gold
* Engine Company 16 in Chicago, LEED Platinum
* Lincoln Hall at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, LEED Platinum
* Powell Elementary School in Chicago, LEED Gold
* Lincoln Land Community College Workforce Careers Center in Springfield, LEED Silver
The full ranking of the top 10 states include:
|
Rank
|
State
|
Projects certified in 2013
|
Square feet LEED certified in 2013
|
Per-capita square footage
|
|
1
|
Illinois
|
171
|
29,415,284
|
2.29
|
|
2
|
Maryland
|
119
|
12,696,429
|
2.20
|
|
3
|
Virginia
|
160
|
16,868,693
|
2.11
|
|
4
|
Massachusetts
|
101
|
13,684,430
|
2.09
|
|
5 (tie)
|
New York
|
259
|
37,839,395
|
1.95
|
|
5 (tie)
|
California
|
595
|
72,729,476
|
1.95
|
|
6
|
Oregon
|
47
|
6,991,942
|
1.83
|
|
7
|
North Carolina
|
133
|
17,183,099
|
1.80
|
|
8
|
Colorado
|
124
|
8,894,187
|
1.77
|
|
9
|
Hawaii
|
17
|
2,323,379
|
1.71
|
|
10
|
Minnesota
|
51
|
8,205,155
|
1.55
|
|
*
|
Washington, D.C.
|
106
|
19,524,216
|
32.45
|