USGBC Unveils Top 10 States for LEED in 2016
Massachusetts topped the U.S. Green Building Council‘s annual list of 10 leading states for LEED certification in 2016 with 136 certified projects, up from third place the year before. Coming in second was Colorado with 92 projects, followed by Illinois, New York and California. Washington, D.C., had 120 projects, but was excluded from the rankings due to its status as a federal district. The 10 leading states on the USGBC list comprised 309.12 million gross square feet, while LEED projects collectively represented more than 470 million square feet on a national level. USGBC estimates LEED forms part of a U.S. green building segment that will have generated 3.3 million jobs, $190.3 billion in worker paychecks, and $303.5 billion in gross domestic product by next year. There is concern among architects about how the Trump administration could impact the green building industry, especially with cabinet picks that have hinted at rolling back environmental regulations and have voiced opinions suggesting they have little commitment to progressive energy and environmental policy.