Facts and Statistics

Impact of US Buildings

Economy:
U.S. Construction market in 2001 (includes all commercial, residential, industrial)
Represents 20% of U.S. economy.
Source: National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National science and       Technology Council: Construction Industry Statistics, 1995

Energy:
Buildings represent 39% of U.S. primary energy use (includes fuel input for production)
Source: 2003 U.S. DOE Buildings Energy Databook.

Buildings represent 70% of U.S consumption
Source: 2003 U.S. DOE Buildings Energy Databook                     

Water use:
Buildings use 12.2% of all potable water, or 15 trillion gallons per year
Source: U.S. Geological Service, 1995 data.
Less than 3% of the world's water is safe to drink.
85% of all landscape problems are directly related to over watering.  A properly designed and operated irrigation system can reduce water use by 20% or more each year.

Materials use:
Buildings use 40% of raw materials globally (3 billion tons annually)
Source:  Lenssen and Roodman, 1995, “Worldwatch Paper 124: A Building Revolution: How Ecology and Health Concerns are Transforming Construction,” Worldwatch Institute.

Waste:
The EPA estimates that 136 million tons of building-related construction and demolition (C&D) debris was generated in the U.S. in a single year
Source: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/debris/about.htm, and U.S. EPA Characterization of Construction and Demolition Debris in the United States, 1997 Update.

Compare that to 209.7 million tons of municipal solid waste generated in the same year.  Source: U.S. EPA Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States, 1997 Update. Report No. EPA530-R-98-007

What’s going on around the country?
In 2006, 380 thousand tons of coal was consumed in the United State for energy generation.  For use in commercial buildings, 3837 thousand tons of coal was consumed.  In industrial buildings, 83,504 thousand tons of coal was consumed.
Source:  Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy, updated May 27, 2007

More than 116 million residential buildings existed in 2000.  More than 1.8 million residences are built annually.  Nearly 4.7 million office buildings existed in 1999.  Every year, approximately 170,000 commercial buildings are constructed and nearly 44,000 commercial buildings are demolished.
Source:  2002 Economic Census, US Department of Commerce

In 2006, over 172,000 new Energy Star qualified homes were built nationwide – this accounted for more than 12% of all new site-built, single family homes permitted.

There are 7,600 USGBC members in the United States.  By 2006, there were 2,969 and 642 million square feet of LEED certified buildings.

What’s going on in North Carolina?
The USGBC has over 245 business members in North Carolina.  Further, the USGBC reports 74 projects have been certified in North Carolina.  Another 63 North Carolina projects have registered their intent to become certified.

Southern Energy Management – one of NC’s largest companies to certify Energy Star qualified homes – designated 52 homes with the rating in 2005.  In 2006, the company designated more than 1,000 Energy Star-rated homes.  In 2000 they had 0 employees, in 2004 they had 6 and currently they have 28 plus employees and serve all of NC and parts of SC and VA.

Residential Energy Services Network – North Carolina currently has 20 certified Home Energy Raters (HERS), a 20% increase since fall of 2006.