Savannah Duncan
According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the total footprint of commercial projects that have achieved LEED certification has reached more than 2 billion square feet worldwide. Additionally, 7 billion square feet is currently in the pipeline as registered projects.
“In communities around the globe, leaders from every sector of the building industry are reinventing their local landscapes with buildings that enliven and bolster the health of our environment, communities and local economies,” says Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of USGBC.
Each day LEED is certifying approximately 2 million square feet of commercial building space in more than 130 countries. Nearly 50,000 commercial projects comprising 9 billion square feet of construction space, are participating in the LEED program.
2500 Windy Ridge, an office building in Atlanta, achieved LEED EBOM Platinum certification in August.
“The journey to this milestone has energized our economy, funneling $554 billion annually into the U.S. economy alone, and has helped support 7.9 million jobs across the U.S.,” Fedrizzi says.
LEED takes several factors into account when awarding certification, including sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, locations and linkages, awareness and education, innovation in design and regional priority.
The USGBC is a non-profit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. There are currently 79 chapters nationwide.
Since July, more than 300 projects have earned LEED certification in more than 20 countries worldwide.