Green-Building Momentum

Concrete and cement groups announced new product guidelines tied to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) project certification during

Concrete and cement groups announced new product guidelines tied to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) project certification during the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. The event was staged Nov. 9-11 at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center. Among companies and groups exhibiting were: Hanover Architectural Products, Holcim (US) Inc., Lehigh Cement, Pavestone Co. and Trenwyth Industries, plus American Coal Ash Education Foundation, Brick Industry Association, Environmental Council of Concrete Organizations, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Portland Cement Association, and Slag Cement Association.

Green building products and methods typically offer energy savings and long service life, and are derived from sustainable materials whose usage results in limited environmental impact. Greenbuild delegate and exhibitor participation underscored the rapid emergence of the green movement in public and private construction. At conference opening, market and project bid data provider McGraw-Hill Construction projected that use of green building methods will rise rapidly over the next five years, representing 5 to 10 percent of total U.S. nonresidential construction spending. In a new report, Green Building SmartMarket McGraw-Hill notes that such methods represented about 2 percent, or $3.3 billion, in total nonresidential construction dollars for 2004. By 2010, it contends, comparable spending in the segment will range from $10 billion to $20 billion.

Among other SmartMarket findings: 70 percent of a representative sampling of architects, engineers, contractors and building owners anticipate sales growth from green building; 60 percent of architects, engineers and contractors are specifying and installing green building products; and, green buildings’ operating costs are expected to be 8 to 9 percent lower than those of more conventional design. Additional information on Greenbuild, USGBC and the SmartMarket report can be obtained by visiting www.construction.com/smartmarket/greenbuilding/ or www.usgbc.org/smartmarket/

Green building is a tremendous growth area in design, construction, and building products. We are dedicated to taking an active role in fostering its development in terms of information services and working closely with key industry groups, said McGraw-Hill Construction President Norbert Young. Across the industry spectrum of property owners, contractors, architects, engineers and building product manufacturers, green building has gained momentum due to the rise in energy costs and the cost of basic materials.