http://www.energyefficiencynews.comAfion Media Ltd US green building sector to contribute $554 billion to economy by 2013 <p>The US green building sector will triple its contribution to the country&rsquo;s economy over the next four years from its current level of $173 billion to $554 billion, according to a <a href="http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=6435" rel="external">report</a> from the <a href="http://www.usgbc.org/" target="_top">US Green Building Council</a>.</p> <p>The report, which was drawn up together with consultants <a href="http://www.boozallen.com/" rel="external">Booz Allen Hamilton</a>, also indicates that green buildings should reduce energy costs by around $6 billion during the same period and create up to 7.9 million jobs.</p> <p>The green construction sector in the US currently supports over 2 million jobs and generates more than $100 million in gross domestic product and wages.</p> <p>The US Green Building Council&rsquo;s 19,000 members generate $2.6 trillion in annual revenue and employ around 14 million staff across 29 different industry sectors.</p> <p>&ldquo;In many ways, green construction is becoming the standard for development,&rdquo; says Gary Rahl of Booz Allen Hamilton.</p> <p>Rick Fedrizzi, president and CEO of the US Green Building Council, would like to see the term &lsquo;green building&rsquo; become obsolete when all buildings, retrofits and industry jobs are green as a matter of course.</p> <p>For further information:<br /> <a href="http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=6435" rel="external">www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=6435</a><br /> <a href="http://www.boozallen.com/" rel="external">www.boozallen.com/</a></p> <p>Related stories:<br /> <a href="http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/2399/" rel="external">US rolls out $450 million energy efficiency retrofit programme (15-Sept)</a><br /> <a href="http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/2109/" rel="external">US must act now on inefficient buildings, says report (26-May)</a><br /> <a href="http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/2055/" rel="external">Building sector must do better on energy efficiency (30-Apr)</a><br /> <a href="http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/building-and-design/i/1985/" rel="external">Energy efficient buildings more attractive to buyers and renters (2-Apr)</a></p> http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/2577/ 2009-11-13T00:00:00-00:00 Building, green construction, energy efficiency, US, US Green Building Council