July 23, 2008—Since 2003 the number of counties with green building programs has risen from eight to 39, according to a new report from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). In an effort to examine the eco-friendly initiatives of US counties, the AIA commissioned a study, Local Leaders in Sustainability: Green Counties (.pdf file), of the 200 most populous counties in 2008.
The counties represent 168,864,538 Americans, or a little more than half of the country. Working in conjunction with the National Association of Counties, the AIA spoke to planners, building officials, and sustainability managers across the country, resulting in a total response rate of 88%.
Key findings include:
- 39 counties have a green building program, or at least 19.5% of all sample counties
- At least 42,949,498 people, or 25.6% of the sample population, live in counties with green building programs
- An additional nine counties indicated that they are in a more advanced stage of developing green building programs, forecasting a future of increased green activity
According to regions:
- The Eastern Region has the most green building programs at 19, covering approximately 19 million people.
- The Central Region has 7 programs, with approximately 9 million people living in those counties with green building programs.
- The Mountain Region was a smaller portion of the sample, with only 3 programs; over 2 million people live in these counties.
- The Western Region rounded out the survey with 10 green building programs and almost 13 million affected citizens.
The report also includes a case study section in order to reflect the best practices and diversity of sustainability policy. Many of these programs have also been established for a number of years, providing the opportunity to see what works well and make adjustments as needed. Alameda County, CA; Hennepin County, MN; King County, WA; and Montgomery County, MD have been chosen because they provide solid best practice examples of programs in different parts of the country that can be viewed as models.
The report documents the spread of green building programs, explores best practices, and provides tools for policymakers. For more information on AIA’s green building resources, visit the group’s “Walk the Walk” Web page.
