NEW DELHI: Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the creators of the LEED green building program, announced the annual Top 10 Countries and Regions for LEED.
The list recognizes markets outside the U.S. that are using LEED to create healthier, more sustainable spaces where citizens live, learn, work and play. India ranked third with more than 752 LEED-certified projects totaling more than 20.28 million gross square meters of space.
“Around the world leaders are committing to climate change initiatives that have the power to improve quality of life for citizens and ensure a sustainable future for us all,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the global certifying body for LEED projects. “Progress happens one project at a time and we applaud these markets for their leadership and work to deliver better buildings and healthier spaces.”
The list ranks countries and regions in terms of cumulative LEED-certified gross square meters as of December 31, 2017 and represents 6,657 certified projects totaling more than 158 million gross square meters. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is the world’s most widely used green building program with projects in more than 167 countries and territories, with more than 205,800 gross square meters of space certifying everyday. LEED is a global, regional and local solution that provides a framework for buildings, communities and cities to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving spaces while working to improve quality of life.
| Ranking | Country/Region | Number of Projects | Gross Square Meters* |
| 1 | China | 1,211 | 47.16 |
| 2 | Canada | 2,970 | 40.77 |
| 3 | India | 752 | 20.28 |
| 4 | Brazil | 461 | 14.83 |
| 5 | Germany | 276 | 7.00 |
| 6 | Republic of Korea | 106 | 6.66 |
| 7 | Taiwan | 124 | 6.15 |
| 8 | Turkey | 245 | 6.06 |
| 9 | Mexico | 305 | 5.16 |
| 10 | United Arab Emirates | 207 | 4.41 |
| ** | United States | 30,669 | 385.65 |
*Gross square meters are reported in millions. Data is reported as of December 2017.
**The United States, where LEED originated, is not included on the list, but remains the world’s largest market for LEED.
India is part of a growing number of nations dedicated to a greener, more sustainable built environment. According to a Dodge Data & Analytics World Green Building Trends 2016 SmartMarket Report, to which USGBC was a contributing partner, countries indicated that economic forces were the most important drivers for green building.
The SmartMarket report also revealed that increasing consumer demand has pushed the world’s green building market to a trillion-dollar industry that has led to a corresponding increase in the scope and size of the green building materials market, which is expected to reach $234 billion by 2019.