Washington, D.C. — According to the American Institute of Architects (AIA), since 2003 the number of counties with green building programs has risen from eight to thirty-nine for an increase of 487.5 percent. In an effort to examine the eco-friendly initiatives of U.S. counties, AIA commissioned a study, “Local Leaders in Sustainability: Green Counties,” of the 200 most populous counties in 2008 representing 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 percent.

Key findings of the study include:

• Thirty-nine counties have a green building program, or at least 19.5 percent of all sample counties.
• At least 42,949,498 people, or 25.6 percent 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.

The report also includes a case study section in order to reflect the best practices and diversity of sustainability policy. It also documents the spread of green building programs, explores best practices, and provides tools for policymakers. Visit www.aia.org for more information.