Minnesota a leader in LEED.

When it comes to new buildings, how green is our valley? Very.The national U.S. Green Building Council said today that Minnesota is the 10^th-best state for LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, certified commercial and institutional green buildings per capita, based on 2010 U.S. Census data.

The Minnesota Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council said that 167 buildings are LEED certified. The group's executive director, Sheri Brezinka, said that the chapter is holding its first Leadership Sustainability Awards on April 14 to recognize the best green buildings in Minnesota. There's more info at http://greenminneapolisbusiness.com/awards.

Nationwide, the USGBC says that more than 40,000 projects are participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems in all 50 states and 117 countries. Nearly 10,000 homes have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, with nearly 45,000 more homes registered