China continues to take the lead in environmentally friendly buildings, with people's growing demand for greener, healthier and more energy-smart edifices, said a major industry association.

According to the latest report issued by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), the nonprofit and nongovernmental organization behind the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — or LEED rating system — the Chinese mainland once again ranked first in the world on its annual list of Top 10 Countries and Regions for LEED in 2024. This has been the ninth consecutive year that the Chinese mainland has topped the list.

The LEED system is a globally recognized green building certification and rating standard. Buildings with LEED certificates are more environmentally friendly than others, utilize energy-efficient equipment and actively adopt renewable energies or other technologies that reduce the negative impact of buildings on the environment.

The ranking highlights countries and regions outside the US that are making significant strides in healthy, sustainable building design, construction and operations. Last year, 1,860 LEED green building projects, representing more than 25 million gross square meters of space, were LEED-certified in the Chinese mainland.

According to the USGBC, in 2024, there were more than 2,700 newly added LEED projects registered in China, up 4.44 percent year-on-year. Newly added registered space totaled nearly 63 million sq m, 4.27 percent higher than the year before.

Wang Jing, vice-president of the USGBC North Asia, said: "With the acceleration of urbanization in China, green buildings have become an important reflection of people's growing demand for environmental protection, health and energy conservation. Consumers and enterprises are increasingly aware of sustainability, and green buildings offer both environmental benefits and long-term economic advantages."

Wang said China's dual carbon goals have established a strategic framework for green building development, with local governments incentivizing LEED certification through subsidies and tax benefits. Corporate ESG transformation and green finance innovation also contributed to the rise of green buildings in China.

Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, said: "China has made significant progress in green building technologies, including the application of energy-saving, water-saving and environmental protection materials. The innovation and application of these technologies offer support for the development of green buildings in China. The improvement of market mechanisms also promotes the development of the industry."

According to the council's report, in 2024, various sectors are accelerating their green transitions in China, with manufacturing, warehousing and distribution centers, food and beverage, technology, and financial players seeing significant growth.

In 2024, nearly half of the certified projects in the Chinese mainland were from the fast-food sector, which now owns the largest number of LEED-certified projects globally. Both international chain brands such as KFC, McDonald's, Haagen-Dazs and Starbucks, as well as locally renowned brands such as Heytea, Luckin and Chagee, have begun to obtain LEED certifications.

With sustainable development becoming a global consensus, more and more companies are seeking green transformation to reduce their impact on the environment, while consumers also tend to prefer stores with LEED certifications, industry experts said.

According to Wang from the USGBC, in the coming years, the number of LEED-certified retail spaces in China will continue to increase.

"In terms of the total number of LEED registrations across different venues in China, retail spaces have surpassed office spaces for the first time in 2024. Participants also include dining establishments, luxury boutiques, fast fashion stores and large shopping malls. To respond to brand ESG goals and consumer demand, the number of certifications for retail stores related to consumption will continue to increase," she said.

Wang added that the renovation and upgrading of existing buildings are showing strong growth. "An increasing number of existing buildings are undergoing green transformation to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability. This is also a major trend in the coming years."