USGBC Reveals 2024’s Top 10 States for Green Building
By Fay Harvey
WASHINGTON — On Jan. 29, the U.S Green Building Council (USGBC) released its annual Top 10 States for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) list. Determined based on LEED-certified gross square footage per capita, the 2024 list showcases the states that have best adhered to the LEED v4 framework.
Massachusetts tops the list with 4.95 LEED-certified square footage per capita, climbing two spots from its 2023 ranking. The state’s most prominent project was Gilette Stadium, in Foxborough, Mass., home to the New England Patriots football team. The project achieved Gold certification under LEED v4.
Illinois took second place with 4.02 gross square feet per capita. New York was ranked third and Washington was fourth. Maryland took fifth place, marking the biggest jump in the ranking by climbing five spots since 2023. Over the course of 2024, the state saw a 61% increase in the number of LEED-certified projects, resulting in 100 projects and 2.78 gross square feet per capita. California follows with 2.58 gross square feet of LEED-certified square footage per capita.
In seventh place was Texas with 2.58 gross square feet per capita and Nevada was recognized in eighth with 2.47. Texas last appeared in 2022, when it ranked ninth, and in 2021 Nevada ranked tenth. Rounding out the 2024 list, Colorado placed ninth and Virginia placed tenth.
The District of Columbia received an honorable mention for its LEED efforts, as the district saw more than 33 square feet of certified space per resident across 111 green building projects, a higher number than Massachusetts.
“More than ever, governments and organizations are seeking to build more resilient, healthy, affordable and sustainable cities and communities that address immediate and future needs,” said Peter Templeton, USGBC president and CEO, in a company statement. “LEED provides a proven path to meeting these critical priorities. We commend these states and the District of Columbia for their leadership and progress toward a more resilient and sustainable future for all.”
Since its launch 25 years ago, the LEED metrics-based system has become the world’s most widely used green building program and has set an evolving, dynamic global standard for decarbonization efforts in the building sector. The latest iteration of LEED standards, LEED v5, is set for release later this year and reflects insights from more than 6,000 stakeholders worldwide.
Additional information on the 2024 rankings, along with a list of notable projects, can be found here.