The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) estimates there are as many as 150,000 LEED-certified green housing units worldwide in a recent release related to the LEED in Motion: Residential Report.

According to the report, the number of LEED-certified green housing units more than doubled between 2011 and 2012 as more and more green homes continue to be built. The report is the most recent in the LEED in Motion series that’s been developed to educate readers about LEED, the most widely used green building rating system.

California is leading the way with the most LEED-certified homes in the United States followed by New York and Texas. New Jersey, Georgia, Ohio, Florida Washington, Massachusetts and New Mexico follow to round out the top 10 states with the most LEED-certified homes.

The United States leads the world with more than 136,000 LEED-certified Homes, followed by Canada and South Africa.

The report was released just two days before the official start of summer as more and more Americans look for ways to reduce high-energy bills. By building a LEED-certified home, homeowners can expect to save 20 to 30 percent in energy and water costs compared to homes built to code. LEED-certified homes are also built to maximize fresh air in the home while reducing toxins and pollutants in the home’s air.

“Our homes are more than just spaces that provide shelter,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC, in the release. “Homes touch practically every aspect of our lives and are a critical element of our overall sense of safety, identity and community. Enhancing our homes’ efficiency and resilience offers an extraordinary opportunity to further the revolution in sustainable building and living practices so that it ripples outward to our communities. As demonstrated in LEED in Motion: Residential, this movement is already well under way.”

McGraw Hill Construction estimates the green market share will continue to grow to represent 26 to 33 percent of construction by 2016.

The LEED in Motion: Residential report explores the benefits of LEED-certified homes and multi-family buildings across the country, features a number of LEED-certified products and professionals focusing on building more sustainable homes.

The full report can be found here: http://go.usgbc.org/homes