Green Keeps Growing Despite Downturn

OYSTER BAY, NY-A global economic crunch isn’t expected to dampen growth for green building, says a new report from NextGen Research. The report from the locally based research company says office buildings will be the largest non-residential target sector for green materials, the market for which is expected to reach $571 billion worldwide by 2013, up from $455.3 billion in 2008.

“The construction industry has an immense impact on the environment, so green building products are a key market within the global environmental movement,” says Larry Fisher, research director at NextGen, in a release. “After all, 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.”

He adds that in the US, “buildings account for 38% of all CO2 emissions, use 13.6% of all potable water, and consume 72% of all electrical power generation. Commercial and residential developers need to assess the total life cycle of all the building products and materials they utilize, as they can have a substantial, lasting effect on the environment.”