New tool aggregates LEED project info for over 150 countries

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the launch of an expanded online data visualization resource that will allow any user to access aggregated LEED green building project information in the more than 150 countries with LEED projects under way.

Following on the successful U.S. state market briefs launched by USGBC in April, the international market briefs detail LEED projects by owner sector, rating system and space type for all countries with building projects participating in the LEED green building rating system, along with in-market LEED credentialed professionals and USGBC members.

"LEED is driving innovation and sustainable development across the globe,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, chief operating officer, USGBC. "These market briefs offer a global view, country by country, simultaneously representing the international demand for LEED and our commitment to making the story and the data behind it transparent."

The global uptake of LEED has surged in the past few years. The gross commercial square footage certified by the Green Building Certification Institute outside the U.S. rose from 156 million to 176 million square feet in a single year (2012-2013). Currently, more than 648 million square feet of commercial space is LEED certified outside the U.S.

The country market briefs dovetail with the recent series of country-specific LEED in Motion reports (Greater China, Sweden, Canada) and the LEED Earth promotion, which offers complimentary LEED certification to the first project in a country to achieve LEED certification. Since the program began in 2013, LEED projects in 15 nations, including Venezuela and Kuwait, have earned free certification.

“Visualizing the global LEED marketplace allows us not only to see the present, but gives us a window through which we can imagine a more sustainable future for our planet,” added Ramanujam.

The international market briefs can be downloaded either as a visualization or as a raw data file and are accessible at usgbc.org/advocacy/country-market-brief.

The new elements of the facility now include: efficient lighting with day-lighting controls and occupancy sensors, a high-efficiency HVAC system used in conjunction with a newly constructed thermal envelope to help reduce energy consumption, and the installation of low-flow fixtures to reduce water consumption.

The building is 27% more energy efficient than similar buildings, uses 21% less

| Feb 22, 2012

Siemens earns LEED certification for Maryland office

The Beltsville facility, which also earned the ENERGY STAR Label for energy performance, implemented a range of energy efficiency, water conservation and sustainable operations measures as part of the certification process.

| Feb 22, 2012

Suffolk awarded Boston post office renovation project

Renovation of art deco landmark will add 21,000 square feet of retail and 110 new parking spaces.

| Feb 20, 2012

Comment period for update to USGBC's LEED Green Building Program now open

This third draft of LEED has been refined to address technical stringency and rigor, measurement and performance tools, and an enhanced user experience.

Four types of sustainable roofing systems from Tremco Roofing and Building Maint

| Feb 17, 2012

Tremco Inc. headquarters achieves LEED Gold certification

Changes were so extensive that the certification is for new construction and not for renovation; officially, the building is LEED-NC.

| Feb 15, 2012

Code allowance offers retailers and commercial building owners increased energy savings and reduced construction costs

Specifying air curtains as energy-saving, cost-cutting alternatives to vestibules in 3,000-square-foot buildings and larger has been a recent trend among consulting engineers and architects.