By Erin Weaver More than 20,000 U.S. homes have achieved certification through LEED for Homes since the program’s launch in 2008, with nearly four times that number currently registered and working toward certification. Green building is expected to account for about one-third of the residential market by 2016, according to a recent McGraw-Hill Construction study. Of LEED’s future in the industry, Nate Kredich, vice president of residential market development at the U.S. Green Building Council, says the market is recognizing that "there are green homes, and then there are LEED homes.” LEED for Homes certifications thus far include a variety of building types, more than half of them affordable housing. Recently certified projects include eight LEED Platinum affordable homes in Florida, two LEED Gold multifamily buildings in Texas, and a LEED Silver home in Saudi Arabia—one of the first LEED for Homes international pilot projects to achieve certification. For more information, see usgbc.org/LEED/Homes.

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IMAGE CREDITS:
1. Greenfab