The green building study also determined that green building spending currently supports more than 2m American jobs and generates more than US$100bn in gross domestic product and wages.
The economic impact of the total green building market from 2000 to 2008, the study found, contributed US$178bn to US gross domestic product; created or saved 2.4m direct, indirect and induced jobs; and generated US$123bn in wages.
The green building study also assessed the US Green Building Council’s 19,000-plus member organisations and found that they generate US$2.6 trillion in annual revenue, employ approximately 14m people, come from 29 industry sectors and include 46 Fortune 100 companies.
“Our goal is for the phrase ‘green building’ to become obsolete, by making all building and retrofits green – and transforming every job in our industry into a green job,” says Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chairman of USGBC.
The study considered the total value of green buildings and the results include workers from the architects who design them to the construction labourers who pour their foundations to the truck drivers who deliver the materials, in recognition of the how extensive the impact of green building is.
“The study demonstrates that investing in green buildings contributes significantly to our nation's wealth while creating jobs in a range of occupations, from carpenters to cost estimators,” says Gary Rahl, Officer, Global Government Market, Booz Allen Hamilton. “In many ways, green construction is becoming the standard for development.”
Report findings:
The economic impact of the total green construction market:
Contribution to the US gross domestic product (GDP)
- 2000-2008: US$173bn
- 2009-2013 forecast: US$554bn
Jobs created or saved (includes direct, indirect and induced jobs)
- 2000-2008: 2.4m
- 2009-2013 forecast: 7.9m
Wages
- 2000-2008: US$123bn
- 2009-2013 forecast: US$396bn
Energy savings
- 2000-2008: US$1.3bn saved
- 2009-2013 forecast: US$6bn saved
The economic impact of LEED-specific spending*:
Contribution to the US gross domestic product (GDP)
- 2000-2008: US$830m
- 2009-2013 forecast: US$12.5bn
Jobs created or saved (includes direct, indirect and induced jobs)
- 2000-2008: 15,000
- 2009-2013 forecast: 230,000
Wages
- 2000-2008: US$703m
- 2009-2013 forecast: US$10.7bn
Energy savings
- 2000-2008: US$281m saved
- 2009-2013 forecast: US$4.8bn saved
*These figures only account for LEED-specific spending, not the value of LEED-certified buildings as a whole.