Top 10 countries for LEED buildings outside the U.S.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its ranking of the top 10 countries for LEED outside of the United States, demonstrating the global reach of the movement that is transforming the built environment into high-performing structures that benefit the planet and all of its people.

“The global community is increasingly recognizing the imperative for action as we combat the extraordinary challenge of worldwide climate change,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “LEED’s success across a wide variety of cultures, climates and communities represents not only a growing recognition of its demonstrated benefits for human health and operational cost savings, but also its unparalleled potential to be part of the solution to a warming planet and rising sea levels.”

The list of the top 10 countries for LEED reflects the global adaptability of the world’s most widely used and recognized system guiding the design, construction, operations and maintenance of green buildings. To date, project teams in more than 140 countries and territories have implemented LEED in their building projects, taking advantage of its global, regional and local applicability to create structures that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions; create healthier indoor environments for workers, students and community members; and lower utility bills for building owners through reduced energy and water use.

The ranking of the top 10 countries for LEED outside of the U.S. is based on cumulative gross square meters (GSM) of space certified to LEED in each nation as of April 2014.

Canada tops the list, with 17.74 million GSM of LEED space. Collectively, Canada boasts 4,068 total LEED-registered and -certified projects, representing 58.66 million total GSM of LEED space.

China and India, two of the world’s fastest growing economies and rapid adopters of sustainable building practices, took second and third place on the list, respectively boasting 14.30 million and 11.64 million GSM of LEED-certified space.

Other Asian nations in the top 10 include South Korea, at No. 4 with 3.84 million GSM of LEED-certified space; Taiwan, at No. 5 with 2.98 million GSM; and Singapore, at No. 8 with 2.16 million GSM.

In Europe, Germany and Finland secured spots 6 and 10, respectively — Germany with 2.90 million GSM of LEED-certified space and Finland with 1.45 million.

In South America, Brazil stood at No. 7 on the list, with 2.85 million GSM, while the United Arab Emirates represented green building success in the Middle East, at No. 9 with 1.82 million GSM of LEED-certified space.

The full ranking is as follows:

1. Canada

2. China

3. India

4. South Korea

5. Taiwan

6. Germany

7. Brazil

8. Singapore

9. United Arab Emirates

10. Finland

You can find a more detailed chart here.

Notable certified projects in these nations include:

Canada: 100 Wellington Street West Tower at the Dominion Centre in Toronto, LEED Platinum, the first project in the city to achieve Platinum certification under LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance
China: Haworth Showroom in the Parkview Green in Beijing, LEED Gold, the first project to certify under LEED v4, the latest version of LEED
India: ITC Maurya Hotel in New Delhi, built in 1977, Platinum under LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance
South Korea: Samsung GREEN TOMORROW, the first LEED Platinum project in East Asia
Taiwan: Taipei 101, one of the tallest buildings in the world, LEED Platinum under LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance
Germany: MesseTurm in Frankfurt, an iconic 63-story skyscraper and one of the tallest in Europe, LEED Silver
Brazil: Castelao Arena in Fortaleza, the first 2014 World Cup stadium to earn LEED certification
Singapore: Asia Square Tower 1, a 43-story office building, LEED Platinum
United Arab Emirates: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority Headquarters, LEED Platinum
Finland: Sello shopping center, the first European shopping mall to receive LEED Gold

Collectively, more than 59,000 commercial and institutional projects are participating in LEED, representing 967 million GSM of construction space worldwide.

The Biden Administration’s proposal on building materials rules used on federal construction and federally funded state and local buildings would significantly boost the made-in-America mandate. In the past, products could qualify as domestically made if at least 55% of the value of their components were from the U.S.

Industry Research | Mar 2, 2023

Watch: Findings from Gensler's latest workplace survey of 2,000 office workers

Gensler's Janet Pogue McLaurin discusses the findings in the firm's 2022 Workplace Survey, based on responses from more than 2,000 workers in 10 industry sectors.

AEC Innovators | Mar 2, 2023

Turner Construction extends its ESG commitment to thwarting forced labor in its supply chain

Turner Construction joins a growing AEC industry movement, inspired by the Design for Freedom initiative, to eliminate forced labor and child labor from the production and distribution of building products.

Multifamily Housing | Mar 1, 2023

Multifamily construction startup Cassette takes a different approach to modular building

Prefabricated modular design and construction have made notable inroads into such sectors as industrial, residential, hospitality and, more recently, office and healthcare. But Dafna Kaplan thinks that what’s held back the modular building industry from even greater market penetration has been suppliers’ insistence that they do everything: design, manufacture, logistics, land prep, assembly, even onsite construction. Kaplan is CEO and Founder of Cassette, a Los Angeles-based modular building startup.

Airports | Feb 28, 2023

Data visualization: $1 billion earmarked for 2023 airport construction projects

Ninety-nine airports across 47 states and two territories are set to share nearly $1 billion in funding in 2023 from the Federal Aviation Administration. The funding is aimed at help airports of all sizes meet growing air travel demand, with upgrades like larger security checkpoints and more reliable and faster baggage systems.

Seismic Design | Feb 27, 2023

Turkey earthquakes provide lessons for California

Two recent deadly earthquakes in Turkey and Syria offer lessons regarding construction practices and codes for California. Lax building standards were blamed for much of the devastation, including well over 35,000 dead and countless building collapses.

Eleven Park soccer stadium Indianapolis, Indy Eleven, Keystone Group, Populous - River View

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Feb 27, 2023

New 20,000-seat soccer stadium will anchor neighborhood development in Indianapolis

A new 20,000-seat soccer stadium for United Soccer League’s Indy Eleven will be the centerpiece of a major neighborhood development in Indianapolis. The development will transform the southwest quadrant of downtown Indianapolis by adding more than 600 apartments, 205,000 sf of office space, 197,000 sf for retail space and restaurants, parking garages, a hotel, and public plazas with green space.

Architects | Feb 27, 2023

Hord Coplan Macht announces retirement of Founder/CEO Lee Coplan, FAIA, and names successor

Hord Coplan Macht, an award-winning integrated architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and planning firm, announces the retirement of Founder and Chief Executive Officer Lee Coplan, FAIA. Lee leaves behind a long and celebrated career leading the practice over the last four decades while bringing innovative design strategies and leadership to the architecture and design community.

El Centro (Calif.) public library. Photo: Stephen Whalen Photography

Libraries | Feb 26, 2023

A $17 million public library in California replaces one that was damaged in a 2010 earthquake

California’s El Centro community, about two hours east of San Diego, recently opened a new $17 million public library. With design by Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects and engineering services by Latitude 33 Planning & Engineering, the 19,811-sf building replaces the previous library, which was built in the early 1900s, damaged by a 7.2 earthquake that struck Baja California in 2010, and demolished in 2016.

Currently Reading

Top 10 countries for LEED buildings outside the U.S.

Tags

Modular Building | Mar 3, 2023

Codes | Mar 2, 2023

Industry Research | Mar 2, 2023

AEC Innovators | Mar 2, 2023

Multifamily Housing | Mar 1, 2023

Airports | Feb 28, 2023

Seismic Design | Feb 27, 2023

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Feb 27, 2023

Architects | Feb 27, 2023

Libraries | Feb 26, 2023

Most Popular Content

Magazine Subscription

Get our Newsletters

Follow BD+C: