USGBC Report Estimates Half of Commercial Construction Will Be Green By 2016

A new report from the US Green Building Council (USGBC) suggests that at the rate green building is growing in the U.S., it may represent more than half of all commercial and institutional construction as soon as 2016.

The USGBC's report, LEED in Motion: People and Progress, measures the individuals and organizations that are driving and benefitting from green building.

Currently, USGBC estimates that more than 4.3 million people live and work in LEED-certified buildings, while more than 6.2 million people experience a LEED-certified project every day.

The LEED Professionals section of the report considers the community of more than 186,000 LEED credential holders who are actively applying their specialized knowledge of LEED to advance the green building rating system while adding value to the firms that employ them. In particular, the report notes the Top 10 U.S. states for LEED professionals, as well as the Top 10 industries in which they are employed.

The report examines the nearly 13,000 USGBC member organizations, ranging from Fortune 100 corporations to small neighborhood businesses, representing 13 million employees and $1.8 trillion in combined revenue. People and Progress reports on the location and market sectors of these diverse organizations, which are advancing green building with activities such as portfoliowide LEED certifications and participation on LEED development committees.

The report's graphics, charts and other tools demonstrate the breadth of the community intent on creating buildings that are better for the environment and the people who utilize them every day.

"The new LEED in Motion report reflects that incredible cross-section of people — diverse in background, geography and vocation — who are working together to fulfill USGBC’s mission of a sustainably built environment within a generation," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC.