A new study released Wednesday by Hartford conglomerate United Technologies Corp. says green building has graduated globally from a niche market to an accelerating business opportunity.
UTC released the study at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in San Francisco along with McGraw-Hill Construction. UTC specializes in a number of sustainable building products, including air conditioners and elevators.
The report shows firms’ top two reasons for performing green work are client demand and market demand, which are the key drivers of strategic planning. These reasons were followed by lowering business operating costs, bettering the brand, and improving employee health.
The countries with the greatest percentage of building work being green are Brazil at 83 percent, the United Arab Emirates at 73 percent, Singapore at 69 percent, and the United Kingdom at 65 percent.
In the U.S., 48 percent of building projects will incorporate sustainable elements. That number is expected to grow to 58 percent by 2015.
