MARKET PLACE

Cities with Green Building Programs Have Increased More Than 400 Percent
Since 2003 the number of cities with green building programs has risen from 22 to 92 for an increase of 418 percent.

In an effort to examine the eco-friendly initiatives of U.S. cities, the American Institute of Architects commissioned a study of communities with populations of greater than 50,000 to spotlight the growth and effectiveness of green building policies. The report, “Local Leaders in Sustainability,” analyzed 661 communities’ best practices, strategies and trends. It provides recommendations for cities that are looking to implement green building programs.

Key findings:

• One in seven cities surveyed currently have green building programs.
• Number improves to one in five by next year with current projections.
• Thirty-nine percent of citizens live in cities with green building programs.
• Thirty-six cities are in an advanced stage of developing a green building program.

The full AIA report spotlights geographic breakdown, case study examples and recommendations for local program development. Click here for more details and case studies.
The AIA executed a survey group of all U.S. cities with populations of 50,000 or more, a total of 661 communities representing a total population of 107,918,963. A response rate of 92 percent enabled interviews with representatives from 606 communities.

Source: American Institute of Architects, January 2008