Illinois ranked No. 1 in LEED rating

Washington D.C., Feb. 4 — Illinois has been ranked the No. 1 LEED state by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system uses a point scale to determine what level of certification a project deserves: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum. 

The Rockford Region alone has nine LEED-certified buildings, including three Gold Certified buildings. In 2014, the USGBC certified 174 projects within Illinois. Some of the Rockford properties include:
          • Stanley J. Roszkowski U.S. Courthouse, certified as Gold
          • Rock Valley College’s Karl J. Jacobs Center for Math & Science, certified as Gold
          • Rock Valley College’s PEC building, certified as Gold
          • Rockford VA Outpatient Clinic, certified as Silver
          • ComEd Training Facility, certified as Silver

In USGBC’s press release, Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair of USGBC, is quoted explaining the importance of being green, “Every story about a green building is a story about people… LEED certified buildings and the innovations they have driven contribute substantially to our national economic growth, create jobs and improve the quality of life in the communities where they are found.”

 Larson & Darby also understands the importance of energy efficiency for environment and economic prosperity. Michael Dudek, Larson & Darby Director of Construction Administration and Sustainability, was the 2014 Chair of USGBC’s Northern Illinois Branch which coordinates events and programs to promote green practices within the area. They held 11 events in 2014, including LEED building tours, educational programs and networking opportunities for local businesses.

 Read the full press release here.

ABOUT THE USGBC
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and its community are changing the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated. USGBC is made up of a diverse group of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofits, teachers and students, lawmakers and citizens that share the same vision of a sustainable built environment for all within the next generation. Since its beginnings in 1993, the council has grown to encompass 76 chapters, 12,870 member organizations and 197,000 LEED professionals. Rick Fedrizzi, David Gottfried and Mike Italiano started the USGBC with a mission to promote sustainability in the building construction industry.
http://www.usgbc.org/