Greening of Corporate America
By Consulting Specifying Engineer Staff -- Consulting-Specifying Engineer, 5/23/2007 9:34:00 AM MT
According to findings from the new McGraw-Hill Construction Report "Greening of Corporate America," profitability in America’s corporations correlate to green building principles and sustainability practices. The study concludes that most U.S. corporate leaders strive to make sustainability a consistent part of their mission.
The study’s findings show that only 3% of the corporate leader respondents are driving their businesses through the value-driven lens of sustainability. The upper or market transformational stage was formed by 18% of the corporate leader respondents, only 15% of the respondents view sustainability as a competitive advantage. A future prediction shows that during the next three years, more companies will place themselves within this top tier seeking market leadership in sustainability.
Research shows that most large U.S. corporations embrace green as part of their corporate philosophy. The data analysis proves that the percentage of corporate America that is not currently involved in greening their businesses, are working towards making their business Green. It is estimated that 82% of corporate America will reach green involvement by early 2009 if not before, meaning that at least 16% of their building stock will become green.
Brad Haeberle, director of marketing for Siemens Building Technologies, believes that when considering new facilities corporate leaders are aware that the company's best interests is in using green practices. This is beneficial for economic benefits, but also for market differentiation and competitive advantage.
Seventy-five percent of the respondents listed rising energy costs as the fundamental factor in the greening of corporate America. “These results show us that the market can only grow for more efficient, clean-energy technologies, particularly as they relate to building design and operation” Haeberle adds.
Harvey M. Bernstein, vice president of Industry Analytics McGraw-Hill Construction, says that the study results reveal a positive trend. Sixty percent of the respondents identify the value in sustainability concepts, and in the next three years, this 60% will increase to a growing 88%.
The study also found that corporate leader respondents view government and internal management as the initiators pushing their organizations to adopt green policies and practices. More than half of the respondents recognize that market differentiation sustainability activities and green buildings benefit their companies.
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