Construction of both residential and commercial green buildings is increasing around the country, with developers, builders and buyers alike attracted by lower construction costs and energy savings. Real estate agents also are familiar with one of the biggest benefits of green construction — the buildings sell faster and at a higher price than non-green buildings.

Of course, some cities have taken more of a shine to green building than others, as outlined by a recent report from ABODO. For the study, the apartment finder app looked at the square footage of cities’ projects that are LEED-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The Boston-Cambridge-Newton area in Massachusetts and New Hampshire is second in the country in terms of average square footage of residential LEED projects, with the average green project having 131,109 square feet.

“On a national level, it’s not a surprise to see some of the largest U.S. cities leading the charge in green construction,” said Sam Radbil, senior communications director at ABODO. “Cities like Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco and San Jose are all at the forefront of innovation when it comes to city growth and expansion. These large cites, which are home to millions of people, have continued to progress and innovate as their population grows each year. In order to maintain a sustainable environment for all residents, cities of this size must find a way to implement eco-friendly developments for both residential and commercial construction projects.”

The USGBC’s LEED program currently accounts for more than 5.77 billion square feet of development around the world around certifies 2.2 million square feet every day. Thirteen billion more square feet are currently under construction. In the Boston area, there are currently 484 LEED projects, accounting for about 0.1 projects per person, according to ABODO.

Source: ABODO