Texas Ranks 10th on USGBC’s List of 2012 Top States for LEED
Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its annual list of the top states for new LEED certifications in 2012. According to the results, Texas ranks No. 10.
The per-capita list by USGBC, which recognizes those states that are leading the way in transforming their buildings and communities and includes Washington, D.C., is based on 2010 U.S. Census data and reflects certifications for commercial and institutional buildings.
With 191,193,361 total square feet of LEED-certified space through 2012, Texas certified 1.43 square feet per resident last year, standing behind California, with 1.46 square feet, and in front of Nevada, with 1.39 square feet.
“Across Texas, architects, designers, chapter leaders, and everyday citizens are coming together to create the healthiest possible environments for working, living, and playing,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and Founding Chair, USGBC. “Making this list is a testament to their collective efforts to make sustainable building design and use a major part of the state’s discussion on the environment, and I applaud their tireless dedication to the mission of the green building movement.”
“With every LEED certified project in Texas, the drive for better buildings is strengthened and client demand for a higher design standard increases,” said Nicole Ferrini, Chair, USGBC Chihuahuan Desert Chapter. “In our market, the public sector has led the way generating better schools, better libraries and stronger communities. To us, LEED is about more than efficiency numbers and recycled content. It is about changing the way we think about the structures that frame our everyday life — it's about building a better world.”
“In this fast-changing landscape, environmental sustainability and energy conservation need to be at the top of the agenda to attract the most innovative companies and talented individuals,” said Richard Hunton Jr., Chair, USGBC Texas Gulf Coast Chapter. “At this moment, with Houston being one of the most attractive cities in the U.S. for businesses, we are seeing an increase in the interest of major companies looking into building new LEED facilities or moving into existing LEED accredited facilities, and Houston’s 1,200-plus LEED professionals are standing by to help.”
Notable projects that certified in 2012 in Texas include:
· Dallas Convention Center Hotel, the first LEED Gold certified hotel in the state
· Warriors in Transition barracks at Fort Bliss, LEED Gold
· Porsche Center in San Antonio, LEED Gold
· Eagle Veterinary Center in Olmos Park, LEED Platinum
· University of Texas, Austin, Student Activity Center, LEED Gold
· Cunningham Elementary in Houston, Gold under LEED for Schools
· Tarrant County Courthouse NW in Lake Worth, LEED Gold
On Feb. 5, USGBC will officially recognize Texas’ leadership in the green building space at a special event in Houston.
Worldwide, more than 15,000 commercial projects have certified under LEED, with more than 35,000 additional projects in the pipeline, totaling more than 10.3 billion square feet of space.