Green Building Practices – A Global Trend

Green building practices are here to stay.

As a real estate and land use attorney, I’ve seen trends in construction come and go over the past 15 years. In the mid-1990s, there was a lot of talk about incorporating green building practices into building and design. Around the room, people would nod their heads in agreement, while secretly wondering what it would cost, whether it would work, and when the hype would be over.

Its now 2008 and we are facing the reality of global warming, rising fuel prices and a need for more efficient warming and cooling systems in our work and home environments to reduce overall eneregy demands. “Green Building Practices” is no longer just a buzz-phrase, it is required by many local governments for issuance of permits. Nor are green building practices limited to high-end construction projects and mansions. Builder organizations have pressured cities, counties and states to give tax breaks for the use of environmentally-friendly materials in affordable housing projects. Given that some estimate buildings and infrastructure together contribute 40 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with global warming, reduction of these statistics is of global concern. For more information see: United States Green Building Council

A recent report issued by McGraw-Hill Construction, noted the following trends in green building practices among 45 countries worldwide:

• By 2013, 53% of responding firms expect to be largely dedicated to green building (on over 60% of projects), an increase from 30% currently.
• The fastest growing regional green building market is Asia, where the population of firms largely dedicated to green building is expected to jump from 36% to 73% in 2013.
• 86% of firms expect rapid or steady growth in sales and profit levels associated with green building.
• Solar power is the most common form of renewable energy in every region, used by over half (52%) of industry professionals today and expected to grow to 76% in the next five years. The most dramatic growth is expected in wind power use (rising to 57% by 2013, from 20% today), followed closely by geothermal power (expected to jump from 22% to 45% in 2013)

Whether construction materials are of sustainable forest products, recycled products, or a building is constructed pursuant to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) approved practices we’ll see more and more green building practices around the globe in the coming years. I expect that one day soon, I’ll look around the room at a conference and know that not a single attendee believes these practices are but a hyped-up fad.