Washington D.C., USA, 17 February 2019: Canada, China and India top the list of countries with a maximum number of LEED-certified Green Buildings, the USGBC announced in a Press communiqué. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the world’s most widely used Green Building programme, with 96,275 registered and certified projects in more than 167 countries and territories, the communiqué said.

The list ranks countries and regions in terms of cumulative LEED-certified gross square metres, as of December 31, 2018, and represents 7,797 certified projects, totalling more than 210 million gross square metres of space, the communiqué said. 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, the communiqué further said. “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, the global certifying body for LEED projects.

Gopalkrishnan Padmanabhan, Managing Director – APAC and Middle East, Green Business Certificate Institute (GBCI), said: “India is leading the Green Building movement in the Asia Pacific region, with the maximum number of LEED projects in 2018. Apart from commercial buildings, LEED projects are seen in sectors like education, manufacturing and hospitality, to name a few. LEED-certified metros and LEED for cities are also adding the momentum to the Green Building movement in India. Residential projects will drive growth in the next few years and LEED will work closely with the developers and the state governments to ensure a sustainable platform. The demand for Green is growing in India and we are confident that the number of Green Projects in India will increase in the coming years and will positively impact development and Green Jobs.”

The communiqué said India is ranked third, with more than 899 LEED-certified projects, totalling more than 24.81 million gross square metres of space.