Virginia is eighth in country for green building

Published January 30, 2017 by Paula C. Squires

Virginia is among the top states in the country for LEED green building, according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).  In its 2016 ranking, Virginia came in eighth.

The annual list highlights states that made significant strides in sustainable building design, construction and transformation during the past year.  With a total of 155 LEED certified projects representing 2.31 square feet of certified space per resident, Virginia is leading the charge in the green building movement in the United States, the organization said.

“Virginia has been a phenomenal trailblazer in green building and LEED certifications and is leading the way toward a more sustainable future for generations to come,” Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of USGBC, said in a statement. “… With each new LEED certification, we are lowering carbon emissions, creating a healthier environment, driving economic growth and prioritizing sustainable practices that will positively impact the way residents, communities and cities live, work and play.”

A few notable projects tcertified in Virginia in 2016 were the  Woodrow Wilson Library in Falls Church; LEED gold; the  McLean Governmental Center in McLean; LEED gold;
and the Crestview Firehouse 10 in Henrico; LEED gold.

Now in its seventh year, the ranking assesses the total square feet of LEED-certified space per resident based on U.S. Census data. It includes commercial and institutional green building projects certified during 2016. In its 2015 Green Building Economic Impact Study, USGBC said LEED construction is expected to support 107,000 jobs and impact GDP by $9.3 billion from 2015-2018 in Virginia.

Topping this year's list is Massachusetts. It moved from third to first place, with a total of 136 LEED-certified projects representing 3.73 square feet of certified space per resident.

The other states in the 2016 top ten are: Colorado, Illinois, New York, California, Nevada, Maryland, Virginia, Washington and Texas.
Collectively, 1,819 commercial and institutional projects achieved LEED certification in the 10 states representing 309.1 million gross square feet of real estate. Across the U.S., the USGBC said 3,366 projects were LEED-certified in 2016, representing 470.3 million square feet.