Chicago has the highest number of square feet of LEED certified green building projects nationally with 71 million square feet, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) reported in May. Of that total, there are 736 LEED projects that are either already certified or currently in the certification process in Chicago. Of these, 122 are certified or registered using LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (O&M).
 
“The trend toward LEED certification for existing buildings is growing both nationally and locally. LEED for Existing Buildings is an important tool for building owners and managers to add value and increase efficiency,” said Doug Widener, executive director of the USGBC – Illinois Chapter. “By pursuing certification, buildings are also making a conscious effort to support energy conservation which is at the center of the newly announced federal Better Buildings Initiative and the Chicago Region Initiative for Better Buildings.”
 
Nationally, the amount of square feet of space certified under LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance grew by 72 percent from 2009 to 2010. Currently, more than 18 percent of all LEED projects nationally fall under the LEED for Existing Buildings rating system. In Illinois, LEED for Existing Buildings projects account for 13 percent of the 440 LEED certified and 960 registered projects across the state. In Illinois, the amount of square feet of space certified under LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance grew faster than the national rate, nearly quadrupling from 2009 to 2010.

Some newly certified LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M projects in Chicago include: Hyatt Center, 350 Mart Center, 20 N. Michigan, 225 West Wacker, 20 N. Clark, and 191 N. Wacker.

USGBC’s LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of green buildings. More than 40,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising more than 7.9 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 119 countries. In addition, more than 10,000 homes have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, with 45,000 more homes registered.
 
By using less energy, less water and low-toxicity materials, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

The LEED for Existing Buildings Rating System addresses whole-building cleaning and maintenance issues (including chemical use), recycling programs, exterior maintenance programs and systems upgrades. It can be applied both to existing buildings seeking LEED certification for the first time and to projects previously certified under LEED for New Construction, Schools, or Core & Shell.
 
“LEED sets the benchmark for what is possible with high-performing buildings,” says Scot Horst, senior vice president of LEED, USGBC. “The work being done throughout the state of Illinois is a great example of how LEED encompasses everything from new construction to green existing commercial buildings, schools, campuses and homes.”
 
Illinois has been a longtime supporter of green building initiatives and legislation. In both 2007 and 2010, Chicago hosted the USGBC’s annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo. Recently the Illinois Chapter released a comprehensive report identifying opportunities to green all schools in Illinois.

The report was the result of more than two years of collaboration between the USGBC-Illinois Chapter, civic and corporate partners, and was commissioned as a result of the October 2009 adoption of House Joint Resolution 45 by the Illinois General Assembly introduced by State Representative Karen May who has since become Chair of the National Advisory Council of the 50 for 50 Green Schools Caucus Initiative. In addition, U.S. Representative Robert Dold from the 10th District of Illinois was recently named Co-Chair of the Congressional Green Schools Caucus.

www.usgbc.org