Research and Markets: High Energy Prices Increase Trend of LEED Certification in North America

RDATE:21042008

Dublin - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c89374) has announced the addition of "LEED and Beyond: Evolving Trends in Green & Intelligent Buildings in North America" to their offering

This Frost & Sullivan research titled LEED and Beyond: Evolving Trends in Green and Intelligent Buildings in North America illustrates the present scenario in the green building industry and how it has evolved over the years to date. It further analyzes the influence of the LEED tool or the U.S. Green Building Council as it relates to the rating of green buildings in North America and how evolving trends are likely to dictate LEED's future growth. While summarizing that greening is inevitable, this research takes a critical look at the available options for greening at the industry's disposal and plausible steps that could potentially lend a more defined status to this industry-wide movement.

Increasing energy prices and the consequent need to cut down energy use has led to the growth of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in the United States and Canada. The frequent energy price hikes have led to many new projects opting for green standards such as LEED. Green building products and services are being used in new building projects as well as in retrofitting older buildings. Commercial complexes account for almost 50 percent of the energy use in the United States; an estimated 30 percent of energy consumed by a building is unnecessary or not efficiently utilized. However, there are not many ideas on ways to reduce this energy wastage. This is where green building approaches are beneficial.

The North American trend in green construction lays stress on combining enhanced efficiencies in utility consumption, harnessing alternate resources with supporting technology, implementing a sound asset and capital plan to achieve low costs, and reducing the impact on the environment. "The social effects include psychological benefits to occupants and communities, opportunities for recreation and enhanced neighborhood-building value, and uplifting owner/developer image, which is an increasing differentiator among 'green' developers and facility managers," notes the analyst of this research. "Increased productivity is another advantage of 'greening' existing buildings."

LEED-certified Buildings Set to Raise the Bar for Building Industry

LEED-registered projects are set to account for almost 25 percent of all new construction in the United States. This large pool of LEED-certified buildings will raise the bar for the building and design industry as a whole. Industry awareness of the benefits of green buildings is vital to the success of the green building movement and associated energy management markets. Questions of cost benefit, return on investment, and quantum to be spent on greening buildings still need to be answered. However, the many climate change and energy supply outlooks have confused the green building market, leading to the incorrect perception that green buildings are more a fashion statement than a real trend.

However, the mature nature of the construction industry makes it imperative that the market participants act decisively to offer new takeaways such as LEED certification to differentiate themselves. Builders and designers that adopt LEED will prove themselves leaders and innovators in an industry focusing more intently on environmental, social, and financial responsibility. "The challenge for industry participants in the green building sector is to overcome the cost hurdle that frequently dampens end-user interest," notes the analyst. "They should also to be able to institutionalize their proposition as a discerningly time-relevant integrator that end users must adopt sooner, or aggravate the damaging impact of environmental footprint."

Technologies The following technologies are covered in this research:

- HVAC

- Energy management

- Physical security

- Building automation

- Indoor air quality

- GreenGlobes

- Go Green

- LEED-NC

- LEED-EX

- LEED CI

- LEED CS

Market Sectors Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the following market sectors in this research:

- Energy efficiency practices

- Green building rating tools

- Leed products portfolio

Key Discussions

Executive Summary

- 1. Overview of Regional Dynamcis

- - 1. Introduction

- - 2. Background Overview

- - 3. Critical Relevance of Emerging Trends

Evolution of the Greening League

- 1. Trends in the Building Industry

- - 1. Notable Industry Trends

- - 2. LEED and Green Building Industry Forecast

Overview of LEED

- 1. LEED - From Inception to Now

- - 1. LEED's Progression Track

- - 2. LEED and Green Building Facts at a Glance

LEED Beyond Commercial Buildings

- 1. Additions to the LEED Portfolio

- - 1. Recent Additions

Competitive Tools Overview

- 1. LEED and Competitive Tools

- - 1. Review of Competitive Tools

- - 2. Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)

- - 3. GreenGlobes

- - 4. Other Initiatives

Conclusion

- 1. The Future of LEED and Green Buildings

- - 1. Justifying the Cost Issues

- - 2. Challenges Ahead

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c89374

CONTACT: Laura Wood, Senior Manager, Research and Markets

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