Colorado ranks first in the US for LEED Green Building

Securing its status as a national green building leader, Colorado has taken first place on the annual list of the Top 10 States for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) — the world’s most widely used green building rating system. The new list, announced today by the U.S. Green Building Council, ranks states based on the number of LEED certified square feet per person in the last year.

Colorado saw a total of 102 projects earn LEED certification in 2019, representing 4.76-square feet of certified space per person. Colorado has been in the top 10 states for LEED since the list’s inception in 2010. It jumped from sixth place in 2018 to land first in 2019, a position it has held only once before in 2011.

“As we embark on a new decade, the USGBC community is focused on helping more projects get on the path to LEED certification and a more sustainable future,” says Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. “Over the last year, the Top 10 states have certified projects that serve as incredible examples of how green building can create more sustainable and resilient spaces that improve our living standard. There is still much work to be done, but the progress made across these states shows us that our work is having a tangible impact on people’s lives. As we enter our next chapter, we are committed to helping more buildings, cities and communities improve their sustainability performance through LEED.” 

LEED-certified projects support personal health and well-being, as well as use less energy and water, reduce carbon emissions and save money for families, businesses and taxpayers. The Top 10 list is based on 2010 U.S. Census data and includes commercial and institutional green building projects certified throughout 2019.

“Over the past year, we’ve seen a growing interest in policy and plans that help the state address the climate risks it’s facing,” says Charlie Woodruff, regional director at USGBC. “Green buildings are an important part of creating more resilient cities and communities and can help improve the quality of life for residents. We hope Colorado will continue its leadership through the use of LEED.”

With green building expected to grow globally through 2021, the need for skilled professionals to support green building projects has never been more important. Across the U.S. there are more than 165,000 LEED green building professionals with the knowledge to help cities and communities transition to greener buildings and spaces.

LEED professionals demonstrate a competency in green building principles that can set projects on the path to certification and help them consider ways to reduce their impact on the environment and provide people with healthier, more sustainable spaces to live, learn, work and play. Organizations are increasingly providing the opportunity for employees to further develop their professional skills and education. Colorado has a robust workforce of 6,339 LEED professionals with the skills to help businesses, organizations and homeowners meet their sustainability goals.  

The state will hold USGBC’s annual Rocky Mountain Green conference, April 30 to May 1, 2020 in Denver, where hundreds of architects, engineers, contractors, sustainability experts and LEED professionals gather to learn about the latest green building developments across the Rocky Mountain region. Registration for Rocky Mountain Green 2020 is open, and the educational programming, offering LEED professionals a chance to earn continuing education hours and hone their skills and knowledge, is now available online.

As USGBC continues to advance green buildings, cities and communities through the adoption of LEED and the latest version of the rating system, LEED v4.1, the organization is also considering a future that is focused on a more regenerative approach. In Nov. 2019 at the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, USGBC introduced LEED Positive – a roadmap that will lay the foundation for a future of LEED that transitions away from strategies that only reduce harm and instead focus on those that help repair and restore.

With a continued focus on performance, USGBC is laying the groundwork to ensure sustainable design, construction and operations of buildings, cities and communities remains focused on better buildings that contribute to better lives.

About the U.S. Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, educational offerings, an international network of local community leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities.