In the LEED
According to the Washington-based U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), buildings are the source of 36 percent of the nation’s energy consumption and 65 percent of its electricity consumption. To combat the problem, USGBC created the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. The LEED program provides energy-conserving benchmarks for buildings and ways to achieve those goals. The benchmarks vary for existing and new buildings, and commercial and residential use. The LEED standards and information are available on the USGBC Web site, www.usgbc.org.
30 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings.
136 million tons of waste are produced annually by buildings and construction.
53 cities in 17 states have adopted LEED initiatives, such as legislation, ordinances and statutes.
24 countries have LEED-registered projects under way.
Source: USGBC, March 2007