The U.S. Green Building Council recently announced that the 12,000th commercial project has earned LEED certification. Since its launch in 2000, the LEED green-building program has been transforming the way built environments are designed, constructed, operated and maintained.

“Twelve years after the first 12 projects earned LEED certification, the green-building community has reached a significant milestone,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO & founding chair, USGBC. “The momentum for green buildings is rippling around the globe, enhancing the built environment for generations to come.”

The 12,000th project is the LEED-Gold Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. Paid for by the Recovery Act and rebuilt after the original facility was destroyed by Hurricane Ike in 2008, the facility will house new wildlife exhibits, an environmental education center and National Parks employees.

The wildlife refuge joins a community of more than 137,000 LEED-registered and certified projects, homes, communities and neighborhoods around the world.

“This milestone is made even more relevant, as it is happening as the final comments are being collected on LEED 2012, the next iteration of continuous improvement of the LEED program,” continued Fedrizzi. “With these next changes, LEED will continue in its role as a catalyst for transformation of the built environment to ever higher standards of sustainable practice. Even in these challenging times, it’s clear that green building is a movement whose time is now.”