Illinois leads the nation in the amount "green" building space it has, according to a new survey released by the U.S. Green Building Council.
The state certified 171 projects representing 29 million square feet in 2013 — or 2.3 square feet per resident, the organization said in its report of top states for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — or LEED.
The top 10 states, in order, include Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, New York, California, Oregon, North Carolina, Colorado, Hawaii and Minnesota.
The Green Building Council says LEED buildings use sustainable building design. They use less energy and water, saving money and reducing carbon emissions.
Top LEED projects certified in Illinois in 2013 included the Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie; a 57-story tower at 300 North LaSalle Street in Chicago; the Caterpillar Visitors Center in Peoria; Lincoln Hall at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and Springfield's Workforce Careers Center at Lincoln Land Community College.
