Green building will support 7.9 million U.S. jobs and
pump $554 billion into the American economy over the next four years according to a new study from the U.S.
Green Building Council and Booz Allen Hamilton.
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
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 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 atusgbc.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 atwww.usgbc.org/courseshelps 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 atwww.usgbc.org/education.