U.S. Green Building Council reveals top 10 states for green building in 2024U.S. Green Building Council reveals top 10 states for green building in 2024

Massachusetts took the number one spot in the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) top 10 states for LEED-certified green building in 2024.

New York, the top state in 2023, slid to third place on the list, while Massachusetts climbed two spots from its 2023 ranking.

The 10 states included in the annual roundup certified a combined 1,437 LEED projects during the year, amounting to more than 414 million gross square feet, according to USGBC. Compared with 2023, the number of LEED-certified projects in the top 10 states grew 17%, while the gross square footage among the featured states increased by approximately 20%.

“More than ever, governments and organizations are seeking to build more resilient, healthy, affordable and sustainable cities and communities that address immediate and future needs,” Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC, said in a statement.

The 2024 state rankings were determined by dividing the state’s total LEED-certified gross square footage by the state’s population.

USGBC describes LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) as the world’s most widely used green building rating system. According to the USGBC website, 137 U.S. cities and communities are certified in LEED for Cities, a program designed to help local governments achieve sustainable solutions for energy, water, waste, transportation and more.

The USGBC Impact Report, released in November 2024, estimated LEED-certified projects had reduced carbon emissions by more than 120 million metric tons to date.

To see the top 10 states for LEED in 2024, click the slideshow above.