The U.S. Green Building Council’s yearly LEED rankings highlight leaders in sustainable design, construction and operation of buildings. This year’s recently announced 2019 Top 10 States for LEED list showcases the expansion of green building across the U.S., with Colorado ranking first in the nation for the highest gross square footage of LEED-certified space per person.

Now in its 10th year, the annual list is based on the gross square footage of LEED-certified space added in each state over the past year, using 2010 U.S. Census data. It includes commercial and institutional green building projects that were certified in 2019.

More than 105 million people live in the states on the Top 10 list, including more than 80,000 LEED professionals, who use their skills to support the sustainable transformation of buildings.

The benefits of LEED go beyond reduced water and energy usage, affecting the health and prosperity of entire communities. LEED-certified projects save money for families, businesses and taxpayers, in addition to reducing carbon and creating a healthier environment in which people can thrive. 

The following is the USGBC's  2019 Top 10 States for LEED list according to gross square footage (GSF) and projects certified through both LEED Online and the Arc platforms.  

1. Colorado 2019 LEED rating 

4.76 CERTIFIED GSF PER CAPITA

23.96 MILLION SQ. FT. CERTIFIED IN 2019

102 PROJECTS CERTIFIED IN 2019

2. Illinois 2019 LEED rating

3.85 CERTIFIED GSF PER CAPITA

49.36 MILLION SQ. FT. CERTIFIED IN 2019

121 PROJECTS CERTIFIED IN 2019

3. New York 2019 LEED rating

3.76 CERTIFIED GSF PER CAPITA

72.78 MILLION SQ. FT. CERTIFIED IN 2019

193 PROJECTS CERTIFIED IN 2019

4. Massachusetts 2019 LEED rating

3.74 CERTIFIED GSF PER CAPITA

24.51 MILLION SQ. FT. CERTIFIED IN 2019

101 PROJECTS CERTIFIED IN 2019

5. Hawaii 2019 LEED rating

3.00 CERTIFIED GSF PER CAPITA

4.08 MILLION SQ. FT. CERTIFIED IN 2019

12 PROJECTS CERTIFIED IN 2019

6. Maryland 2019 LEED rating

2.64 CERTIFIED GSF PER CAPITA

15.23 MILLION SQ. FT. CERTIFIED IN 2019

96 PROJECTS CERTIFIED IN 2019

7. Virginia 2019 LEED rating

2.50 CERTIFIED GSF PER CAPITA

19.98 MILLION SQ. FT. CERTIFIED IN 2019

98 PROJECTS CERTIFIED IN 2019

8. Minnesota 2019 LEED Rating

2.40 CERTIFIED GSF PER CAPITA

12.71 MILLION SQ. FT. CERTIFIED IN 2019

25 PROJECTS CERTIFIED IN 2019

9. Oregon 2019 LEED Rating

2.30 CERTIFIED GSF PER CAPITA

8.83 MILLION SQ. FT. CERTIFIED IN 2019

33 PROJECTS CERTIFIED IN 2019

10. California 2019 LEED Rating

2.17 CERTIFIED GSF PER CAPITA

80.67 MILLION SQ. FT. CERTIFIED IN 2019

400 PROJECTS CERTIFIED IN 2019

*Not ranked as a top 10 state since D.C. is a federal district

11. Washington D.C. 2019 LEED Rating

52.86 CERTIFIED GSF PER CAPITA

31.81 MILLION SQ. FT. CERTIFIED IN 2019

143 PROJECTS CERTIFIED IN 2019