Washington, D.C. consistently leads the United States when it comes to the use of green energy and environmental design, according to the latest report by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
The USGBC report, Top 10 States for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), which is the world’s most widely used green building rating system, included both Virginia and Maryland.
LEED-certified buildings make use of less energy and water, and reduce their carbon emissions, thus creating healthier work and living environments for their inhabitants.
Since it’s a federal territory, D.C. did not make it in the official list. However, according to the Green Building Council, D.C. has been a consistent leader in green energy and environmental design with a strong legacy of sustainability leadership.
“[D.C.] has consistently led the nation and in 2018 certified 61.74 square feet of space per resident across 145 green building projects. The nation’s capital has a strong legacy of sustainability leadership and in 2017 was the first city in the world to be LEED-certified,” the report said.
Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO of USGBC, said the 10 states included in the list were examples of how the United States can create lasting change and improve the quality of life for its citizens.
“A better future requires a universal living standard that leaves no one behind—and that future would simply not be possible without the extraordinary work being done in these states,” Ramanujam added.