Green building will support 7.9 million US jobs and pump $554 billion (£336bn) into the American economy – including $396 billion (£240bn) in wages – over the next four years (2009-2013), according to a new study from the US 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 US gross domestic product; created or saved 2.4 million direct, indirect and induced jobs; and generated $123 billion in wages.
“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.
The study, Green buildings create green jobs in a green economy, considered the total value of green buildings and the results include workers from the architects who design them to the construction labourers who pour their foundations to the truck drivers who deliver the materials.
“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, of 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.”
Green construction builds the economy
Green building will support 7.9 million US jobs and pump $554 billion (£336bn) into the American economy – including $396 billion (£240bn) in wages – over the next four years (2009-2013), according to a new study from the US 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 US gross domestic product; created or saved 2.4 million direct, indirect and induced jobs; and generated $123 billion in wages.
“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.
The study, Green buildings create green jobs in a green economy, considered the total value of green buildings and the results include workers from the architects who design them to the construction labourers who pour their foundations to the truck drivers who deliver the materials.
“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, of 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.”