GoingGoing Green - Green Construction - facts and figures

• By: Admin
• Date: December 10, 2009

In the United States alone, buildings account for:

More Facts as on June 2008

The value of green building construction is projected to increase to $60 billion by 2010.

The construction market accounts for 14.2% of the $10 trillion U.S. GDP

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. The green building products market is projected to be worth $30-$40 billion annually by 2010

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.
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.   

Energy consumption:

Buildings represent 39% of U.S. primary energy use (includes fuel input for production). 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.

Electricity consumption:

Buildings represent 70% of U.S consumption.

Water use:

Buildings use 12.2% of all potable water, or 15 trillion gallons per year. 

Materials use:

Buildings use 40% of raw materials globally (3 billion tons annually).

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. Compare that to 209.7 million tons of municipal solid waste generated in the same year.

Sectors Expected to Have Green Building Growth