Despite a challenging economic outlook, green building will support 7.9 million U.S. jobs and pump $554 billion into the U.S. economy—including $396 billion in wages—over the next four years, according to a new study from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Booz Allen Hamilton. The study also determined that green-construction spending currently supports more than 2 million U.S. 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.
 
Released at the USGBC’s annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the study considered the total value of green buildings. The full report can be downloaded at www.usgbc.org/greeneconomy.
 
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 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design- (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 account for LEED-specific spending, not the value of LEED-certified buildings as a whole.