Chicago Tops Cities With Most Green Office Buildings

The nation’s largest cities — with Chicago in the lead — are getting even greener, according to the fifth annual US Green Building Adoption Index by CBRE and Maastricht University. According to an article on the Energy Manager Today website, green-certified office space across America’s 30 largest metros has reached 41 percent of market totals – the highest in since the index was created

“Green” office buildings in the US are defined as those that hold either an EPA ENERGY STAR label, USGBC LEED certification or both.

Chicago nabbed the top spot with nearly 70 percent of its space green certified. Chicago is 6 percent ahead of San Francisco, which holds second place with 64 percent.

Atlanta is in third place with more than 58 percent of its office green certified. Los Angeles (56 percent) claimed fourth place – up from sixth last year. Minneapolis rounds out the top five with 55 percent.

LEED offers a “Green cleaning — purchase of sustainable cleaning products and materials” credit that “reduces the environmental effects of cleaning products, disposable janitorial paper products and trash bags.”

The credit requires buildings to implement sustainable purchasing methods for bathroom, glass and carpet cleaners that are Green Seal approved and Environmental Choice cleaners for other hard surfaces and carpets.

The goal is for any LEED certified building to limit the toxins that are polluting the air and produce a healthier living environment for those who occupy the space.

Green-building certifications have become an important proxy for sustainable practices, recognized by all stakeholders, according to David Pogue, CBRE’s Senior Vice President, Global Client Care.

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