LEED-ing by Example Around the World

By Cherie Ching, Advocacy Fellow

July 6, 2015

Even as we focus our attention on more LEED-certified buildings and more LEED-accredited professionals in Massachusetts, LEED is making its way around the globe. USGBC (National) reaffirms that “LEED isn’t simply a stamp of approval but a resource for communities, a roadmap to sustainability. LEED is adaptable and can be region-specific, enabling professionals to connect and focus on issues relative to their country.” Although energy efficiency and long-term energy savings are incentives for many to consider the LEED certification in any country, the positive effects on the humans in buildings and environment surrounding buildings are equally substantial.

During a trip to the United States, a delegation from the Sichuan Province of China visited the USGBC Headquarters in Washington, D.C. to discuss sustainable development and how to promote awareness of green building benefits in their region. Instead of asserting green building education onto the people, the Chief Planner of Housing and Urban-Rural Development in Sichuan decided to take a more effective approach to promote green buildings by LEED-ing by example. He wanted to learn more from USGBC in order to showcase his own LEED-certified project with the intention to spark interest in energy efficiency education and make a more powerful impact on the rest of the building community in Sichuan.

In China, according to USGBC, there are already 120 million gross square meters of LEED space and more than 2,100 LEED projects. Around this time a year ago, China ranked 2nd in the USGBC's Top 10 Countries For LEED Outside of the U.S. with 96.22 million gross square meters of LEED space and 1,638 total LEED projects, which is approximately a 20% increase! Other LEED-ing countries ranked top 10 in 2014 included India, South Korea, Taiwan, Germany, Brazil, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Finland and finally, with Canada coming in at first.

LEED project teams are implemented in more than 140 countries and territories, demonstrating LEED’s applicability in global, regional and local structures that result in reducing energy bills and creating a healthier environment indoors and outdoors for all. If countries around the world are seeing the power of LEED, there should be no delay in the rapid expansion and application of LEED in the U.S. for more green buildings!