Green Construction Focuses on Need to Control Building Energy Costs

FARMINGTON, Conn. — Green construction is moving from a niche to the mainstream. Interest in joining the green construction market is growing. Regulatory instruments, governmental initiatives and financial support mechanisms, together with growing consumer awareness and expectations, all put pressure on construction market participants to adopt more green practices.

Through 2017, a rebound in construction activity, combined with continuing consumer interest in environmentally friendly products, will propel U.S. growth in green building materials demand 11 percent annually to $86.6 billion. U.S. construction activity declined sharply during much of the 2007-2012 period, but demand for green building materials held its own, boosted by consumer interest in products that could reduce utility bills or promote environmentally friendly construction practices. For instance, homeowners installed ENERGY STARcertified windows and heating, ventilation and air conditioning   systems to lower energy costs and reduce energy consumption. Gains in residential construction will promote demand for such products as carpeting, gypsum board, concrete and metal building products.

According to “Green Building Materials”, a new report by The Freedonia Group, recycled concrete, ENERGY STARcompliant HVAC systems and permeable pavements are forecast to register above average gains through 2017. Green structural building product demand will be driven by increasing use of recycled concrete, as concrete made with fly ash and other additives features superior performance properties and is less costly than concrete made solely from cement and aggregates. Demand for green building systems will be fueled by strong residential demand for ENERGY STARcompliant HVAC systems that lower utility bills. Permeable pavement demand will be supported by interest in reducing water runoff and minimizing strains on older sewer and water systems.

This report presents historical demand data for 2002, 2007 and 2012, as well as forecasts for 2017 and 2022 by product, market and region of the US. The study also considers market environment factors, assesses industry structure, evaluates company market share and profiles 39 players in the US industry, such as Bridgestone, Mohawk Industries, Shaw Industries, Trane and USG.

The total value of certified green construction worldwide in 2011 was estimated at nearly $70 billion. According to “Green Building Materials and Construction,” a report by SBI Energy, the market is anticipated to reach almost $150 billion by 2016, and$294 billion by 2021. This study presents separate analysis (market size, drivers and barriers) for each green construction market segment: green buildings, green homes, commercial green interiors and green buildings operation. The report also presents residential and non-residential green building materials expenditures.

Buildings consume the majority of the world’s energy and are responsible for a majority of the anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions.   Adopting building energy management systems and using an automated approach to control energy consumption reduces costs and also makes it more convenient to make buildings more energy efficient. Although the concept of building automation has been in existence for a long time and has witnessed profound growth in the last five years, there is huge demand for HVAC, security and access controls.

“Global Building Automation & Controls Market (2013 – 2018),” a new report by Markets and Markets, expects the total building automation and controls market to reach $49.5 billion by 2018. Stringent regulations being imposed by the government, augmented by the increasing need to save operational costs by building owners, has enhanced the demand for building automation and controls.