The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Washington, D.C., announced the annual Top 10 countries and regions for LEED. Outside the U.S. Mainland China topped the list with more than 68 million gross square meters. The list recognizes markets that are using LEED to create healthier spaces for people, as well as using less energy and water, reducing carbon emissions and saving money for families and businesses. The top countries and regions account for nearly 7,800 certified buildings and more than 210 million gross square meters of space.

"For the last 25 years, LEED has played a key role in sustainability efforts around the world,” says Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the global certifying body for LEED projects. “The Top 10 countries and regions represent a global community of dedicated USGBC member companies and green building professionals who are committed to improving our quality of life. A better future requires a universal living standard that leaves no one behind, and that future would simply not be possible without the extraordinary work being done in these countries."

The list ranks countries and regions in terms of cumulative LEED-certified gross square meters as of Dec. 31, 2018. LEED—or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—is a green building program with 96,275 registered and certified projects in more than 167 countries and territories. The full rankings are as follows: