i+D - May/June 2021 - 21

Design
by the
Numbers
GREEN BUILDING
LOOKS AHEAD
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) makes annual practice
of surveying the USGBC and Green Business Certification Inc.
(GBCI) community in order to set and prioritize goals for the
future. For 2021, the focus of that survey turned to how the
green building industry can recover and thrive post-pandemic.
Of note this year is not just the results of the survey, but also the
eagerness of the green building industry to participate-response
nearly tripled from the 2020 survey, with feedback coming in
from more than 50 countries.
Results show not only confidence in the vital role USGBC and
GBCI will play as workers return to offices and people in general
return to more public lifestyles, but also enthusiasm for the
expansion of the USGBC portfolio beyond LEED to include a
greater focus on health and equity. Of particular significance is
overwhelming support (74%) for USGBC's pandemic shift away
from strict focus on LEED v4 and v4.1 to a stance that " healthy
people in healthy places equals a healthy economy. " In support
of this statement, USGBC posed strategic questions to incite
thought and action. They include: " How will we build a healthier,
more sustainable future for current and future generations to
honor the lives lost? " and " How will we remain resilient against
future threats to our global health, like climate change? "
The survey also shows that while community members are
pleased with how USGBC adjusted during the pandemic-
expanding on virtual interaction and online LEED resources,
in particular-the community is not one to rest on its laurels.
A majority of respondents (68%) are in favor of USGBC
diversifying beyond LEED and more than three-quarters stress
the importance of equity programs and believe USGBC has a
responsibility to be a leader in creating programs that address
systemic disparities in the building community.
USGBC is set to share future insights and the expertise and
experiences of the global green building community at the
inaugural USGBC Live, which takes place virtually June 8-10.
The agenda includes sessions that will highlight trends, ways
in which members are successfully managing post-pandemic
building re-entry, and expected market shifts, as well as regional
USGBC Leadership Awards and a look at mapping the future
of LEED Zero (net-zero energy, water, waste, and carbon). For
those maintaining LEED credentials, USGBC Live offers nearly
60 continuing education hours. View the full agenda and reserve
your place at usgbc-live.org.
TAKING
THE LEED
In tracking continuing interest
and participation in green building
practices and programs, USGBC
calculated where the 50 states and
District of Columbia ranked with
regard to LEED certification in
2020. The individual calculations
were achieved by dividing the square
footage certified in each location in
2020 (including commercial projects)
by the corresponding population
according to U.S. Census records.
Of particular interest, while the
District of Columbia is not ranked
as a top 10 state due to its status as
a federal district, it has by far the
greatest certified green square feet
per capita in the nation, coming in at
39.53. The closest state to follow is
Massachusetts at 2.91 certified GSF
per capita.
Washington, D.C.
Certified GSF per capita
Million sq. ft. certified in 2020
39.53
23.78
129
Projects certified in 2020
2020 Totals*
1,171
Total projects
281.05
Million GSF certified
*Within the top 10 states for LEED
Top 10 States for LEED Green Building
States
Certified GSF
per capita
Massachusetts
Washington
Illinois
Colorado
New York
Maryland
California
Virginia
Texas
Nevada
2.91
2.82
2.61
2.35
2.28
2.23
2.12
2.05
1.66
1.34
19.03
18.96
33.48
11.83
44.17
12.90
78.91
16.40
41.75
3.62
Million sq. ft.
certified in 2020
Projects
certified in 2020
76
74
94
64
108
88
417
97
139
14
i+D - May/June 2021
21
http://www.usgbc-live.org
i+D - May/June 2021

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