Environmental Valuation & Cost-Benefit News

Link: http://www.usgbc.org/greeneconomy

Despite a challenging economic outlook, green building will support 7.9 million U.S. jobs and pump $554 billion into the American economy – including $396 billion in wages – over the next four years (2009-2013), according to a new study from the U.S. Green Building Council and Booz Allen Hamilton. The study also determined that green construction spending currently supports more than 2 million American jobs and generates more than $100 billion in gross domestic product and wages.

The economic impact of the total green construction market from 2000 to 2008, the study found, contributed $178 billion to U.S. gross domestic product; created or saved 2.4 million direct, indirect and induced jobs; and generated $123 billion in wages.

The study also assessed the U.S. Green Building Council’s 19,000-plus member organizations and found that they generate $2.6 trillion in annual revenue, employ approximately 14 million people, come from 29 industry sectors and include 46 Fortune 100 companies.

The study was released at the USGBC’s annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the industry’s largest gathering of representatives from all sectors of the green building movement.

“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,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chairman of USGBC. “This study validates the work that the 25,000 people gathered here at Greenbuild, and every member of our movement, do every day.”

The study considered the total value of green buildings and the results include workers from the architects who design them to the construction laborers 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 full report can be downloaded at www.usgbc.org/greeneconomy, where one can also find other research, resources, tools and information about green building and its role in the economic recoveries of professionals, businesses and the nation.

The economic impact of the total green construction market:
• Contribution to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP)
o 2000-2008: $173 billion
o 2009-2013 forecast: $554 billion
• Jobs created or saved (includes direct, indirect and induced jobs)
o 2000-2008: 2.4 million
o 2009-2013 forecast: 7.9 million
• Wages
o 000-2008: $123 billion
o 2009-2013 forecast: $396 billion
• Energy savings
o 2000-2008: $1.3 billion saved
o 2009-2013 forecast: $6 billion saved
o The economic impact of LEED-specific spending*:
• Contribution to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP)
o 2000-2008: $830 million
o 2009-2013 forecast: $12.5 billion
• Jobs created or saved (includes direct, indirect and induced jobs)
o 2000-2008: 15,000
o 2009-2013 forecast: 230,000
• Wages
o 2000-2008: $703 million
o 2009-2013 forecast: $10.7 billion
• Energy savings
o 2000-2008: $281 million saved
o 2009-2013 forecast: $4.8 billion saved
*These figures only account for LEED-specific spending, not the value of LEED-certified buildings as a whole.
USGBC’s role in the marketplace:
• The U.S. Green Building Council’s 19,000-plus member organizations generate $2.6 trillion in annual revenue.
• USGBC members employ approximately 14 million people.
• USGBC members come from 29 industry sectors and include 46 Fortune 100 companies.
About the U.S. Green Building Council
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 78 local affiliates, more than 20,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 131,000 LEED Accredited Professionals, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students. Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

U.S. Green Building Council www.usgbc.org
Press Release dated November 11, 2009