LEED certification struggles to capture the true impact of energy conservation efforts.

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.

As sustainability becomes more important in discussions around building construction and maintenance, certifications that demonstrate experience and understanding of green building design have become especially valuable.

The LEED Gold is added to RenewAire’s three Green Globes certification from the Green Building Initiative, making this one of only a handful of commercial buildings to achieve dual-certification through two independent rating systems. 

Authored by lead builder Jonathan Wright, “Living Building Makers: Creating Sustainable Buildings That Renew Our World” shares candid stories about the challenges and charms of green building.

This year’s Top 10 states for LEED, released by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), include more than 468 million gross square-feet of LEED-certified space. LEED-certified buildings use less energy, water, reduce carbon emissions and save money for families, businesses and the community.

The Envelope 2000 composite panels, by Citadel Architectural Products, consist of two aluminum skins, bonded to a thermoset phenolic resin core. The life cycle and recyclability of the panels were recently used to help the Helena Aviation Readiness Center achieve Gold LEED status during a renovation.

Al Ward, vice president of Global Sales for Daikin Applied, explains the role of HVAC systems in helping buildings reduce their carbon footprint.

Carrier's world headquarters, the UTC Center for Intelligent Buildings, is the first commercial building in Florida to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Platinum v4 certification. 

Mayor Muriel Bowser was presented with the honor by Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of the council, at an event on the steps of Dunbar High School, the highest rated LEED-certified school in the United States.