California among Top 10 States for LEED in 2022

[ Article originally appeared in www.usgbc.org ]

For the 10th straight year, California is a leader in sustainability and LEED certifications, ranking fourth in LEED-certified square footage per capita on USGBC's Top 10 States for LEED in 2022. California also had the most total LEED-certified projects, with 386, and the most total square footage, with 96 million square feet.

As the world's fifth largest economy, with a strong energy and technology sector, coupled with a clear commitment to emissions reductions, California has led the development and deployment of clean energy technologies and pollution reduction.

California effectively deals with climate change challenges through strong government leadership, accelerated investment in clean energy and rapid growth of businesses that contribute to the advancement of the low-carbon economy.

“As California continues to step up to lead the country on green buildings, our community is providing the innovation in design, the execution on policy and the expertise in operations to help us achieve our goals,” says Ben Stapleton, executive director for the USGBC Los Angeles Chapter.

In addition, California was an early adopter of climate-based legislation, with the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32), which set an absolute statewide limit on greenhouse gas emissions and confirmed California's commitment to transition to a sustainable, clean energy economy. Ten years after the passage of AB 32, California extended and strengthened the limit on greenhouse gas emissions with the passage of SB 32 in 2016 that increased the goal for greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.

USGBC member companies from a variety of sectors continue to be at forefront of the green building movement in the state, including DPR Construction, Gaia Development, Google, Irvine Company, the Kaiser Foundation and the State of California.

SOURCE: https://www.usgbc.org/articles/california-among-top-10-states-leed-2022