# LEED Top States 2013: Illinois Led Green Building Rankings - Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/02/leed-top-states-2013/ - Published: 2014-02-18T20:44:58-05:00 - Author: greenguruguides **LEED top states 2013** rankings showed how quickly green building was spreading across the United States. Illinois led the state rankings that year, while Washington, D.C. posted an even higher per-capita total but was listed separately because it is not a state. ## Illinois Led the 2013 LEED State Rankings **Illinois leads among all states in 2013; mid-Atlantic region of Washington, D. C, Maryland and Virginia tops list ** Washington, D.C. — (Feb. 18, 2014) — Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its ranking of the Top 10 States for LEED®, the world’s most widely used and recognized green building rating system. The list highlights the regions around the country that are at the forefront of sustainable building design and transformation. Utilizing less energy, LEED-certified spaces [save money](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/06/5-easy-eco-friendly-tips/) for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce carbon emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. Illinois moved into the top position for LEED, certifying 171 projects representing 2.29 square feet of LEED space per resident. > “Both the public and private sectors in Illinois recognize that long-term investments > in 21st century infrastructure should be done in ways that reduce energy consumption > and protect the environment,” said Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn. “Illinois is proud > to be the nation’s green buildings leader, and we are proof that a smaller environmental > footprint can help us step toward energy independence.” The mid-Atlantic region reigned in 2013 with Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia all topping the list. Washington, D.C., had 106 LEED-certified projects representing 32.45 square feet of space per resident. Maryland and Virginia followed Illinois in the second and third positions, respectively, certifying 2.20 and 2.11 square feet of LEED space per resident in 2013. Newcomers to the top 10 states list from 2012 include: Oregon, which certified 47 projects representing 1.83 square feet per resident in 2013; North Carolina, with 1.80 square feet per resident; Hawaii, with 1.71 square feet per resident; and Minnesota, with 1.55 square feet per resident. New York and California, two of the most populous states in the nation, tied for fifth place, with each certifying 1.95 square feet of space per resident in 2013. USGBC calculates the list using per-capita figures as a measure of the human element of green building, allowing for a fair comparison of the level of green building taking place among states with significant differences in population and, accordingly, number of overall buildings. Notable projects that certified in these states in 2013 include: Illinois: The Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie, LEED Gold. Maryland: M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, LEED Gold, home of the Baltimore Ravens. Virginia: 1776 Wilson Blvd. in Arlington, LEED Platinum, the first commercial building in Arlington to earn Platinum certification. Massachusetts: The Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center in Holyoke, LEED Platinum, the first university research computing center to achieve Platinum certification. New York: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, LEED Silver, home of the Brooklyn Nets and future home of the N.Y. Islanders. California: SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco, LEED Gold. Oregon: The Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt Federal Building in Portland, LEED Platinum. North Carolina: Mother Earth Brewing in Kinston, LEED Gold. Colorado: Fort Collins Museum of Discovery in Fort Collins, LEED Platinum. Hawaii: Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Kapolei, LEED Silver, the largest certified project in the state. Minnesota: The Carleton College Weitz Center for Creativity in Northfield, LEED Gold, the college’s third project to earn LEED certification. Collectively, 1,777 commercial and institutional projects became LEED certified within the top 10 states in 2013, representing 226.8 million square feet of real estate. Worldwide, 4,642 projects were certified in 2013, representing 596.8 million square feet. Cumulatively, more than 20,000 projects representing 2.9 billion square feet of space have been LEED-certified worldwide, with another 37,000 projects representing 7.6 billion square feet in the pipeline for certification. USGBC launched LEED v4, the newest version of the rating system, in the fall of 2013. The latest version continues to raise the bar for the entire green building industry, which McGraw- Hill Construction projects could be worth up to $248 billion in the U.S. by 2016. LEED v4 features increased technical rigor; new market sector adaptations for data centers, warehouses and distribution centers, hospitality, existing schools, existing retail, and midrise residential projects; and a simplified submittal process supported by a robust and intuitive technology platform. Source: [USGBC](https://new.usgbc.org/) and [usgbc.org/LEED](https://new.usgbc.org/) ## Why the LEED Rankings Matter LEED rankings do more than celebrate individual buildings. They show where energy- efficient design, healthier interiors and lower-impact construction are gaining real market share. Because the list uses certified square footage per resident, it also gives smaller states a fairer comparison with more populous markets. For more Green Living Guy coverage, see our look at the [impact of the LEED green building rating system](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/02/usgbcs-new-report-demonstrates-impact-transformative-power-of-leed-green-building-rating-system/). ## Conclusion The 2013 LEED rankings captured an important moment in U.S. green building. Illinois led the states, while major markets including New York, California, Maryland and Virginia also showed strong adoption. Source: [U.S. Green Building Council — Top 10 States archive](https://www.usgbc.org/top-10-leed-2024). ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4841837f2a0756d69aeaa2877e5646549fc845ec2f0ffc2804839152c38ba332? s=300&d=monsterid&r=g) greenguruguides The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman, is recognized as a green living guru and electric car expert. 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