The state has 57 of them, compared with 86 in Oregon and 78 in California, according to statistics from the U.S. Green Building Council. Not included in the data is aslew of other local projects overseen by other green building organizations.
And thanks to a mass training effort of at least 1,000 builders and increasing awareness of the structures' reasonable costs and energy-saving features, southeastern Michigan is gearing up to go even greener, according to environmental groups and the state Department of Environmental Quality.
That doesn't seem like a whole lot at this point, but more are on the way as buyers discover that you will save money in the long run for a little more upfront, and builders discover that going green is a selling point in a tough housing market.
Additionally, there are about 150 individual houses certified by the Grand Rapids-based nonprofit Green Built Michigan, which is endorsed by the Michigan Association of Home Builders.
"The builders are all looking for something that will set them apart. The general public now gets it, now understands that green-built homes are better for the environment, better for the world, better for themselves," said Jeannine Reynolds, executive director of the Alliance for Environmental Sustainability of Grand Rapids.
Besides new housing, many other green projects are in the works.
There are more than 200 Michigan development projects that are certified by or are seeking certification by Washington, D.C.-based Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a national benchmark for the design, construction and operation of green buildings.
Among ones in the area that made the list: the Detroit Lions headquarters and training facility in Allen Park; Cass Technical High School in Detroit, and Macomb County's Lenox Township Hall, which is expected to be the first green municipal building in the state once construction is completed in a couple of months.
The new Grand Rapids Art Museum is a certified LEED building; the first and only art museum in the world to carry such a distinction.
Welcome to the future of construction, with Michigan leading the way. A bit of good news for your Monday morning.