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The ongoing COVID-19 crisis largely impacted the growth of the U.S. construction industry. However, the country continued to build sustainable and healthy buildings despite the situation, certifying over 400 million square feet of space to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. The construction of LEED-certified homes increased since 2017 and reached an all-time high in 2019 globally, with around 400,000 units in the U.S. LEED-certified homes use 20 to 30% less energy than a traditional home, with some owners reporting 60% savings. It is expected that the construction of green single-family and multifamily homes is likely to grow through 2022.
In 2020, of the top 10 states with LEED-certified projects in the U.S., Massachusetts held the highest gross square footage of LEED-certified space per person. Notably, Massachusetts had 76 certified projects, with 2.91 square feet of LEED-certified space per resident in 2020. Within the top 10 states, there were 1,171 LEED-certified projects with 281.05 million gross square footage certified recorded in 2020. Of the total LEED-certified projects, California accounted for a maximum number of projects at 35.6% (or 417 projects).
Of these LEED-certified spaces, healthcare, education, offices spaces held the majority of certifications. Also, nearly 20% of the certifications were held by distribution centers, warehouses, multifamily and retail spaces.
In January 2021, the Chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee reintroduced the Reopen and Rebuild America's Schools Act (RRASA) to highlight the need for investment in K–12 school infrastructure. Earlier in July 2020, RRASA was passed as part of the INVEST in America Act (H.R. 2). As part of the law, it would provide $100 billion over five years to renovate schools in low-income and high-need communities. RRASA ensures that new and extensively modernized schools are green schools with third-party verification.
Moreover, in 2020, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced LEED Positive, which further pushes the LEED standards to the thresholds in the Living Building Challenge building certification program.
