New Poll Shows Strong Bipartisan Support for LEED Green Building Program

Support increases with knowledge of LEED's positive impact on job creation and cost savings

News provided by

Feb 25, 2015, 08:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED green building rating system has strong bipartisan support across the U.S., according to a new poll released today. The nationwide poll found that 79 percent of Republicans and 89 percent of Democrats support the use of LEED in buildings.

The poll also found that a strong majority supports the criteria LEED uses to determine a building's sustainability, including saving money through energy and water efficiency and creating jobs.

"Americans on both sides of the aisle strongly support the increased efficiency and cost savings that result from implementing LEED," said Taryn Holowka, senior vice president, Marketing Communications & Advocacy, USGBC. "This poll highlights the great public demand for the continued use of green building standards to cut costs, improve human health and reduce impacts on the environment."

About 30 percent of Americans have heard of LEED by name. Once given information on the certification process, 83 percent of Americans strongly support using LEED to assess and encourage green building.

The poll also found that 77 percent of voters believe that LEED buildings are healthier for the people who live, work, learn and play in them, and 74 percent believe LEED buildings can save people money through cost-effective energy and water use. The latter finding was particularly bipartisan, with 70 percent of Republicans and 83 percent of Democrats agreeing with LEED's cost-savings benefits.

Voters from both parties generally favor green building and that support increases when they learn about LEED's job creation and cost-savings potential.

The poll also tested voters' support for government policies to encourage green building standards, including LEED. Overall support was strong, with 73 percent of voters agreeing that government should have some green building standard in place, and 36 percent of voters endorsing LEED as a leadership standard much more than a generic standard.

Support for government using green building standards was stronger among Democrats (88 percent), though a majority of Republicans also supported government green building standards (64 percent support versus only 28 percent opposition to any government standards).

Echelon Insights conducted the nationwide poll on behalf of USGBC from Feb. 2-6, 2015, surveying 800 registered voters on both landline and cellular telephones. The survey was weighted by age, gender and race to be a representative sample of voters nationwide. The margin of error is +/- 3.5.

About the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org, explore the Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG) and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the world's foremost program for the design, construction, maintenance and operations of green buildings. Every day, 1.7 million square feet of space is certified using LEED. LEED seeks to optimize the use of natural resources, promote regenerative and restorative strategies and minimize the negative environmental and human health consequences of the construction industry, and provide high-quality indoor environments for building occupants. LEED certification demonstrates leadership, innovation, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. Learn more at usgbc.org/LEED.

Contact: Marisa Long: [email protected], 202-552-1500

SOURCE U.S. Green Building Council