Massachusetts, Illinois head list of top 10 states for green building in 2025

Matching its 2024 ranking, Massachusetts held the top spot while Illinois remained in second place in the U.S. Green Building Council’s annual list of the Top 10 States for LEED in 2025. 

Colorado climbed six spots to third place and Georgia cracked into the top 10 for the first time since 2023. The annual ranking highlights public and private sector leaders advancing healthier, more resilient buildings and communities.

The U.S. remains the world’s leading market for LEED certification, USGBC says. In 2025, LEED adoption continued to accelerate nationwide, with thousands of projects designed, built, and operated to save energy, reduce waste, and improve occupant health. 

While office buildings and higher education projects remain strong sectors in LEED adoption, innovation-focused sectors—life sciences, data centers, and advanced manufacturing—are fueling notable growth in several top states. Recertifications are helping to raise performance in existing buildings, signaling a market-wide commitment to continuous improvement and high performance in the built environment.