WASHINGTON, D.C.—According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, including hotels, LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership.
LEED is for all building types and all building phases including new construction, interior fit outs, operations and maintenance and core and shell. LEED Zero is for projects with net zero goals in carbon and/or resources. Projects pursuing LEED certification earn points for various green building strategies across several categories based on the number of points achieved. A project earns one of four LEED rating levels: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum.
To what extent has the hotel industry embraced LEED? Green Lodging News recently acquired a list of 2,132 LEED hotel projects that are either registered for certification or certified. The list is as of December 16, 2020 and does not include those projects that have opted to remain confidential.
More Than 1,200 in U.S.
There are currently 1,253 LEED registered or certified hotels in the United States. The country with the next highest number of hotel projects is China (includes Hong Kong) with 186. Other countries with a significant number of LEED hotel projects: United Arab Emirates (65); India (64); Mexico (35); and United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (65).
Within the United States, California leads the country with 209 LEED hotel projects followed by Florida with 101, New York with 88, Texas with 71, Virginia with 54, Maryland with 53, Pennsylvania with 48, Washington, D.C. with 47, Massachusetts with 45, North Carolina with 39, Washington with 35, Nevada and Georgia with 34, Colorado with 32, and Illinois with 31.
LEED is ever evolving. This past summer USGBC released four new Safety First Pilot Credits in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The credits outline sustainable best practices that align with public health and industry guidelines related to cleaning and disinfecting, workplace re-occupancy, HVAC, and plumbing operations. The credits can be used by LEED projects that are certified or are undergoing certification.
Search on “LEED” on Green Lodging News and you will find approximately 500 articles.
To obtain the list of registered or certified hotels, write to greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
