Green Building = Jobs

A report out this week from the U.S. Green Building Council says that "(d)espite a challenging economic outlook, green building will support 7.9 million U.S. jobs and pump $554 billion into the American economy – including $396 billion in wages – over the next four years (2009-2013)..."

Phew! The report has many good stats in it besides that.

The economic impact of the total green construction market:
• Contribution to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP)
    o 2000-2008: $173 billion
    o 2009-2013 forecast: $554 billion
• Jobs created or saved (includes direct, indirect and induced jobs)
    o 2000-2008: 2.4 million
    o 2009-2013 forecast: 7.9 million
• Wages
    o 2000-2008: $123 billion
    o 2009-2013 forecast: $396 billion
• Energy savings
    o 2000-2008: $1.3 billion saved
    o 2009-2013 forecast: $6 billion saved

The economic impact of LEED-specific spending (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design):
• Contribution to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP)
    o 2000-2008: $830 million
    o 2009-2013 forecast: $12.5 billion
• Jobs created or saved (includes direct, indirect and induced jobs)
    o 2000-2008: 15,000
    o 2009-2013 forecast: 230,000
• Wages
    o 2000-2008: $703 million
    o 2009-2013 forecast: $10.7 billion
• Energy savings
    o 2000-2008: $281 million saved
    o 2009-2013 forecast: $4.8 billion saved

Read more in the press release (PDF) and download the full report here.