The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that more than 20,000 homes across the U.S. have earned certification through the LEED for Homes program.LEED for Homesis a national voluntary certification system that provides guidance and verification that homes are designed and built to be energy- and resource-efficient and healthy for occupants.
"There are green homes, and then there are LEED homes. This milestone is evidence that the residential market is increasingly recognizing this fact," saidNate Kredich, vice president of residential market development, USGBC. "LEED for Homes is moving the residential market further and faster towards high-performing, healthy homes that save residents money."
The collection of LEED-certified homes is as varied as the whole of the residential market - from multi- to single-family, from market rate to affordable housing. Since the launch of LEED for Homes in 2008, more than 20,000 residential units have been certified with nearly 79,000 additional units in the pipeline. Over half of all LEED-certified homes are in the affordable housing category.
Recently-certified projects include:
Green homes are expected to grow to between 29% to 38% of the residential construction market by 2016, equating to $87-$114 billion, according to a 2012 McGraw Hill Construction study.
Source: USGBC
