Green Building by the Numbers

April 2009

The overall green building market (both non-residential and residential) is likely to more than double from today’s $36-49 billion to $96-140 billion by 2013 (Source: McGraw Hill Construction (2009). Green Outlook 2009: Trends Driving Change.)

The value of green building construction is projected to increase to $60 billion by 2010 (Source: McGraw-Hill Construction (2008). Key Trends in the European and U.S. Construction Marketplace: SmartMarket Report.)

The construction market accounts for 13.4%
of the $13.2 trillion U.S. GDP (Source: Department of Commerce (2008). Annual Value of Construction Put in Place.)

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 (Source: McGraw Hill Construction (2007). Greening of Corporate America SmartMarket Report.)

The green building products market is projected to be worth $30-$40 billion annually by 2010 (Source: Green Building Alliance (2006). Green Building Products: Positioning Southwestern Pennsylvania as the U.S. Manufacturing Center.)

U.S. Green Building Council:

Membership

• 19,957 member organizations including corporations, governmental agencies, nonprofits and others from throughout the industry.
  • Since 2000, USGBC’s membership has more than quadrupled.

LEED^® Green Building Certification System

• The LEED for New Construction rating system was first released in 2000.
• LEED for Commercial Interiors and Existing Buildings became available in 2004.
• LEED for Core & Shell became available in July 2006 for spec developments.
• LEED for Homes was launched in December 2007.
• LEED for Neighborhood Development, Retail and Healthcare are currently in pilot test.
• Over 5 billion square feet of commercial building space is involved with the LEED green building certification system.
  • By 2010, approximately 10% of commercial construction starts are expected to be green, according to McGraw Hill Green Building Smart Market Report 2006. 
    • Every business day, $464 million worth of construction registers with LEED.

• There are LEED projects in all 50 states and 91 countries.
• Owners of LEED-registered and certified projects represent a diverse cross-section of the industry.

Education & Accreditation

• LEED workshop attendance:                              94,916
• LEED Accredited Professionals:                        81,155
• Greenbuild Attendees 2008:                                28,224
• Greenbuild Attendees 2007:                                22,835

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: McGraw-Hill Construction (2008). Key Trends in the European and U.S. Construction Marketplace: SmartMarket Report.

1. Source: Department of Construction (2008). Annual Value of Construction Put in Place.

Energy consumption:

• Buildings represent 38.9% of U.S. primary energy use (includes fuel input for production).  Source: Environmental Information Administration (2008). EIA Annual Energy Outlook.
  
  
• 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 38% of all CO2 emissions. Source: Energy Information Administration (2008). Assumptions to the Annual Energy Outlook

• Buildings represent 72% of U.S consumption.  Source: Environmental Information Administration (2008). EIA Annual Energy Outlook.

Water use:

• Buildings use 13.6% of all potable water, or 15 trillion gallons per year.  Source:   U.S. Geological Survey (2000). 2000 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: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1997). U.S. EPA Characterization of Building-Related Construction and Demolition Debris in the United States.
  
  
• Compare that to 209.7 million tons of municipal solid waste generated in the same year.  Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1997).  Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States. Report No. EPA 530/R-98-007.

Sectors Expected to Have Green Building Growth

• Education
• Government
• Industrial
• Office
• Healthcare
• Hospitality
• Retail

Source: McGraw Hill Construction (2008). Global Green Building Trends SmartMarket Report.

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 (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 residential demand for green construction
3. Improvements in sustainable materials.

Source: FMI (2008). U.S. Construction Overview

Data from the source USGBC file at http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3340