Though climate change is a controversial subject in some circles in America, the country as a whole has made strides towards energy-efficient construction. But this trend isn’t just about curbing greenhouse gases. Rising energy and other commodity prices have made sustainable building more cost effective, helping green and sustainable construction survive the recent downturn. Says IBIS, “the construction industries were early victims of the Great Recession, but the Green and Sustainable Building Construction industry capitalized on the green movement and weathered the downturn as well.”
Average annual growth 2002-2012: 28.9%
Projected annual growth 2012-2017: 22.8%
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