Illinois is on the U.S. Green Building Council's list of the top ten states for green buildings.

Illinois ranks third on the nonprofit group's list, behind the District of Columbia and Colorado. The list ranks states for the number of commercial and institutional green buildings per capita based on the 2010 U.S. Census. Illinois has 34.5 million square feet of green building space, or 2.6 feet per capita.

Doug Widener is president of the council's Illinois chapter. He says the state's high ranking marks the diversity of those in Illinois who understand the significance of green building's environmental, economic and social impacts.