The total footprint of commercial projects certified under the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC's) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System has surpassed 1 billion sq ft. Another 6 billion sq ft of projects around the world are registered for LEED certification.

“This traction demonstrates the transformation of the way we design, build, and operate buildings,” Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive officer, and founding chair of the USGBC, said. “Not only does green building contribute to saving energy, water, and money, it also creates green jobs that will grow and energize our economy.”

“The impact of these 1 billion sq ft can be seen in communities around the world,” Peter Templeton, president of the Green Building Certification Institute, the certifying body for LEED projects, said. “The use of LEED represents a growing global commitment to improving our built environment for future generations.”