Chicago now boasts highest percentage of certified LEED or Energy Star office buildings among the 30 largest real estate markets in the U.S., according to a study published by CBRE Group Inc. and Maastricht University.
About 66% of the city’s office buildings are now certified in one of the two leading green rating systems. Chicago increased its percentage of green office space square footage by 6.5% in the last year, taking the top spot away from San Francisco, which slipped to second place. Chicago’s effort to encourage building owners to add green roofs and to expedite permitting for buildings with sustainable certification, helped it rise in the rankings.
In this year’s annual study, green buildings in San Francisco represented almost 62% of commercial office space. Atlanta, Houston, and Minneapolis rounded out the top five cities for green buildings.
Across the top 30 U.S. real estate markets, the average proportion of green certified square footage is 38%.
Related Stories
| Jun 14, 2012
Minnesota Vikings stadium plan gets legislative go-ahead
Legislation that approved the construction of a new billion dollar stadium for the Minnesota Vikings passed the Minnesota legislature.
| Jun 14, 2012
Report alleges New York’s prevailing construction wages are miscalculated, costing billions
A miscalculation in how prevailing wages are calculated in New York reportedly costs the state $3 billion a year in public-infrastructure projects.
| Jun 14, 2012
AGC, other business groups oppose hiring rules for disabled
Business groups have asked the U.S. Department of Labor to reconsider a proposed hiring quota aimed at federal contractors pertaining to people with disabilities.
| Jun 5, 2012
HP Labs aims for net-zero energy data centers
Building sustainable data centers is one of the goals of HP Labs, and it believes technology, combined with the right building techniques, could result in the construction of energy-efficient data centers.
| Jun 5, 2012
USGBC delays LEED 2012; renames it LEED v4
In response to concerns by LEED users, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that it will delay the ballot on LEED 2012 until June 1, 2013.
| Jun 5, 2012
Baltimore officials vow to block $1.8 billion urban renewal project
Baltimore officials want to block a $1.8 billion urban renewal project until more neighborhood residents and minority contractors are hired and displaced residents can benefit from the revitalization.
| Jun 5, 2012
OSHA launches campaign to warn of heat dangers in outdoor work
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has begun a campaign to warn outdoor workers about the dangers of heat exposure.
| Jun 5, 2012
AGC’s Safety and Health Conference focuses on regulations, legislation
More than 150 industry professionals and other attendees will participate in the Associated General Contractors of America’s (AGC’s) safety and health conference July 11-13 in Washington, D.C.
