Cleanlink News November 13 2009
Study: Green Building Supports Jobs
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 Œgreen 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 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,” said Gary Rahl, Officer, Global Government Market, Booz
Allen Hamilton. “In many ways, green construction is becoming the standard for
development. As a result, it is
expected to it is expected to support nearly 8 million jobs over the next five
years, a number four times higher than the previous five years.”
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.
In support of the
green building industry’s potential to drive tremendous job growth, USGBC has
bolstered its commitment to education as a key component of its organizational
mission toward a sustainable built environment. A new course catalog at
www.usgbc.org/courses helps green building professionals find educational
resources and training that support their learning needs at any level — from
novice to seasoned pro — and in a variety of learning formats, including live,
in-person workshops, live or on-demand online courses and webinars, study
materials and reference guides, and other resources. Learn more at
www.usgbc.org/education.
Among the report’s
findings:
The economic
impact of the total green construction market:
• Contribution to
the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP)
• 2000-2008: $173 billion
• 2009-2013
forecast: $554 billion
• Jobs created or
saved (includes direct, indirect and induced jobs)
• 2000-2008: 2.4
million
• 2009-2013
forecast: 7.9 million
• Wages
• 2000-2008: $123
billion
• 2009-2013
forecast: $396 billion
• Energy savings
• 2000-2008: $1.3
billion saved
• 2009-2013
forecast: $6 billion saved
The economic
impact of LEED-specific spending*:
• Contribution to
the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP)
• 2000-2008: $830
million
• 2009-2013
forecast: $12.5 billion
• Jobs created or
saved (includes direct, indirect and induced jobs)
• 2000-2008: 15,000
• 2009-2013
forecast: 230,000
• Wages
• 2000-2008: $703
million
• 2009-2013
forecast: $10.7 billion
• Energy savings
• 2000-2008: $281
million saved
• 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.
