USGBC points to growth for LEED homes

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) said its LEED for Homes program crossed the 20,000-home milestone.

More than 20,000 homes across the United States have earned certification through the national voluntary certification system that provides guidance and verification that homes are designed and built to be energy- and resource-efficient and healthy for occupants.

“There are green homes, and then there are LEED homes,’ said Nate Kredich, VP residential market development, USGBC. “This milestone is evidence that the residential market is increasingly recognizing this fact. LEED for Homes is moving the residential market further and faster toward high-performing, healthy homes that save residents money.”

According to the USGBC, the collection of LEED-certified homes is as varied as the whole of the residential market -- from multi- to single-family, from market rate to affordable housing. There are nearly 79,000 additional units in the pipeline, according to the council.