The US Green Building Council (USGBC), the creators of the LEED green building rating system, announced the annual Top 10 Countries and Regions for LEED outside of the US. The list recognises markets that are using LEED to create healthier spaces for people, as well as use less energy and water, reduce carbon emissions and save money for families and businesses. Europe was well represented by Turkey, Germany and Spain who ranked sixth, seventh and tenth respectively. The three countries have nearly 1,000 certified LEED buildings totaling more than 25 million gross square meters of space.
“For the last 25 years, LEED has played a key role in sustainability efforts around the world,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO, USGBC and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the global certifying body for LEED projects. “The Top 10 Countries and Regions represent a global community of dedicated USGBC member companies and green building professionals who are committed to improving our quality of life. A better future requires a universal living standard that leaves no one behind—and that future would simply not be possible without the extraordinary work being done in these countries.”
Certifications across the three countries are helping to raise the bar for green building. Projects including Turkey’s Teknopark Istanbul Second Phase Buildings is a corporate park supporting the country’s technology development and certified Gold under LEED v4. Germany’s Airport Garden’s office located within Dusseldorf’s Airport Area certified Gold using LEED v4 and was designed with flexible floor plans to meet the needs of occupants. In Spain, the Logistik Gavilanes is a food distribution warehouse and the first warehouse to certify Gold under LEED v4.
