| This paper evaluates the forces currently driving growth within the green building sector. Utilizing data obtained from the US Green Building Council and the US EPA Energy Star Homes program, the author investigates the drivers of supply and demand in order to present options for accelerating/influencing growth for this market. The paper explores linkages between construction/energy costs and sustainable development, as well the economic, social and political factors that are influencing the demand for green building. Utilizing green building data obtained from the USGBC and the US EPA the author ran correlations and linear regressions against data obtained from the US Census and the US DOE to determine if the relationships were significant. The author finds demand for energy efficient buildings is not driven by energy costs but by political and social factors, and options for further growth in this sector will be discussed. |
