Chicago Tops List of Green-Certified Office Market – NMP Skip to main content

Chicago Tops List of Green-Certified Office Market

Aug 24, 2018

Green-certified office space in the nation’s 30 largest metros has reached 41 percent of market totals, according to the fifth annual U.S. Green Building Adoption Index published by CBRE and Maastricht University, which also found 11.5 percent of all buildings surveyed are ENERGY STAR labeled, while 5.2 percent of buildings are LEED certified, both at all-time highs.
 
Among the metro areas surveyed for this report, Chicago ranked highest with nearly 70 percent of its space green certified, followed by San Francisco at 64 percent, Atlanta at 58 percent, Los Angeles at 56 percent and Minneapolis at 55 percent.
 
“For investors and lenders in the commercial real estate sector, green building certification affects their cost of capital,” said Nils Kok, Associate Professor at Maastricht University. “The rationale is that such buildings have a more attractive risk profile, and may be more resilient when economic headwinds arrive.”
 
“Green building certifications have become an important proxy for sustainable practices, recognized by all stakeholders,” said David Pogue, CBRE’s Senior Vice President, Global Client Care. “Any significant change to one of these major certification programs can have a significant impact on the buildings affected. We will be closely watching for the results.”

 
About the author
Published
Aug 24, 2018
Strong Jobs Report Threatens Mortgage Rate Rally

October hiring more than doubled expectations, pushing Treasury yields higher

Nov 06, 2026
Fed Holds Rates, But Pricing Pressures Persist

Rising Treasury yields and fresh inflation data complicate rate locks, borrower qualification, and lender margins as markets anticipate another hike in December

Oct 29, 2026
Zippy Adds Capital For Manufactured-Home Lending Push

The $20 million investment from Saluda Grade will support expansion beyond 27 states and new loan products across wholesale, retail, and community channels

Oct 16, 2026
Inflation Hits 3.7%, Putting Mortgage Rate Relief At Risk

September’s inflation pickup puts recent rate improvements at risk, potentially eroding affordability gains from lower home prices and seller concessions

Oct 14, 2026
PLACE Acquires Ardley, Expanding Push To Turn Existing Borrowers Into New Loans

The latest deal connects borrower retention technology with Maxwell's origination platform and PLACE's real estate network, creating new opportunities for lenders

Oct 09, 2026
Equifax, TransUnion Launch New Tools To Cut Credit Report Costs

Both bureaus introduce ways to purchase credit scores separately from reports, while Equifax reports growing VantageScore adoption and extends $1 pricing through 2028

Oct 09, 2026