The U.S. market for green building jumped from $7 billion in 2005 to $12 billion last year and is projected to rise to $60 billion by 2010, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. Over 11,000 projects totaling 330 square kilometers of floor space are LEED-certified or working through the certification process in the U.S.
The value of green building construction is projected to increase to $60 billion by 2010. (Source: McGraw-Hill Construction Analytics, SmartMarket Trends Report 2008).
The construction market accounts for 14.2% of the $10 trillion U.S. GDP (Source: 2006 DOE Buildings Energy Data Book).
By 2009, 80% of corporate America is expected to be engaged in green at least 16% of the time, and 20% will be engaged in green 60% of the time (Source: McGraw Hill Construction, Greening of Corporate America SmartMarket Report, 2007).
The green building products market is projected to be worth $30-$40 billion annually by 2010 (Source: Green Building Alliance).
Size and Impact of the U.S. Built Environment
Construction yields an annual output of U.S. $4.6 trillion, contributing to 8-10% of the global Gross Domestic Product encompassing a workforce of 120 million people and billions of transactions each day. Source: Asia Construct, Euro Construct and National Statistics, 2006.
Comprises 14.2% of the $10 trillion U.S. GDP. This includes all commercial, residential, industrial and infrastructure construction. Commercial and residential building construction constitutes 9% of the GDP. Source: 2006 U.S. DOE Buildings Energy Data Book.
Energy consumption
• Buildings represent 39% of U.S. primary energy use (includes fuel input for production). Source: 2003 U.S. DOE Buildings Energy Data Book.
• Buildings are one of the heaviest consumers of natural resources and account for a significant portion of the greenhouse gas emissions that affect climate change. In the U.S., buildings account for 39% of all CO2 emissions. Source: EIA Annual Energy Review 2005. U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy.
Electricity consumption
• Buildings represent 70% of U.S consumption. Source: 2003 U.S. DOE Buildings Energy Data Book.
Water use:
• Buildings use 12.2% of all potable water, or 15 trillion gallons per year. Source: U.S. Geological Service, 1995 data.
Materials use:
• Buildings use 40% of raw materials globally (3 billion tons annually). Source: Lenssen and Roodman, 1995, “Worldwatch Paper 124: A Building Revolution: How Ecology and Health Concerns are Transforming Construction,” Worldwatch Institute.
Waste:
• The EPA estimates that 136 million tons of building-related construction and demolition (C&D) debris was generated in the U.S. in a single year. Source: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/debris/about.htm, and U.S. EPA Characterization of Construction and Demolition Debris in the United States, 1997 Update.
• Compare that to 209.7 million tons of municipal solid waste generated in the same year. Source: U.S. EPA Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States, 1997 Update. Report No. EPA530-R-98-007
Sectors Expected to Have Green Building Growth
• Education
• Government
• Institutional
• Office
• Healthcare
• Hospitality
• Retail
Source: McGraw Hill Construction 2007.
The three largest segments for nonresidential green building construction —office, education and health care—will account for more than 80 percent of total nonresidential green construction in 2008. Source: FMI’s 2008 U.S. Construction Overview.
What’s Driving Green Building
These factors are expediting the growth of green building:
1. Unprecedented level of government initiatives
2. Heightened demand for green construction
3. Improvements in sustainable materials.
Source: FMI’s 2008 U.S. Construction Overview.
