China Now First in LEED Square Footage
Global green building is expected to double every three years, according to a Dodge Data & Analytics World Green Building Trends 2016 SmartMarket Report cited by USGBC, which was a contributing partner on the report.
China ranked first when the U.S. Green Building Council on Dec. 14 released its Top 10 Countries for LEED list highlighting countries outside the United States that are making significant strides in sustainable building design and construction. China moved from second to first, with 34.62 million gross square meters of certified LEED space, according to USGBC, with Canada, India, Brazil, and the Republic of Korea rounding out the top five countries on the list.
"By recognizing these leading countries, we are showcasing the exponential growth of LEED in the global marketplace and an international commitment to the creation of a sustainable built environment," said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of USGBC. "As we pursue a worldwide effort to mitigate climate change, LEED and the green building industry have created a path forward for market transformation while changing the way we think about how buildings, communities, and cities are planned, constructed, maintained, and operated."
Global green building is expected to double every three years, according to a Dodge Data & Analytics World Green Building Trends 2016 SmartMarket Report cited by USGBC, which was a contributing partner on the report. Conducted in 70 countries, the report found that emerging economies including China, India, and Brazil will be engines of green growth, and that rising consumer demand has pushed the world's green building market to a trillion-dollar industry. The green building materials market is expected to reach $234 billion by 2019.
The list ranks countries in terms of cumulative LEED-certified space as of December 2016. LEED-certified spaces use fewer energy and water resources; save money; reduce carbon emissions; and prioritize environmental and human health.