The Importance of Green Building

There is no better opportunity to create jobs, increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissinons than focusing on the environmental sustainability of new and existing buildings.

Green Building Isn't Just a Larger Part of the Market - It IS the Market

• It is estimated that the value of green building construction is projected to increase to $60 billion by 2010.
• The three largest segments for non-residential green buildingconstruction - office, education and healthcare will account for more than 80% of total non-residential construction.
• By 2009, 82% of corporate America is expected to be greening at least 16% of their real estate portfolios; of these corporations, 18% will be greening more than 60% of their real estate portfolios.
• The green building market is estimated to be worth $30–$40 billion annually by the year 2010.
• By 2010, approximately 10% of commercial construction starts are projected to be green.
• According to a 2006 McGraw-Hill Smart Market report, every business day, $464 million worth of construction registers with LEED.

"LEED"ing the Way

Since 2000, USGBC's membership has more than quadrupled. Currently, there are 19,957 member organizations including corporations, government agencies, non-profits and others from throughout the industry. Over 5 billion square feet of commercial building space is involved with LEED green building certification system.

Construction yields an annual output of U.S. $4.6 trillion, contributing to 8-10% of the global GDP encompassing a workforce of 120 million people and billions of transactions each day. Comprises 13.4% of $13.2 trillion US GDP. This includes all commercial, residential and infrastructure construction. Commercial and residential building construction constitutes 6.1% of GDP.

Green Buildings:  The Largest Opportunity for Envionmental Sustainability

• Buildings represent 38.9% of US primary energy use.
• Building are one of the heaviest consumers of natural resources and account for a significant portion of the greenhouse gas emissions that effect climate change.
• In the US, buildings account for 38% of all CO2 emissions.
• Building represent 72% of US consumption.
• Building use 13.6% of all potable water, or 15 trillion gallons per year.
• Buildings use 40% of raw materials globaly (3 billion tons annually).

EPA estimates that 136 million tons of building related construction and demolition debris was generated in the US in a single year. Compare that to 254 million tons of municipal solid waste generated in the same year.