Green and growing

After posting an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23% through 2006, the market for green, or environmentally friendly, building materials is expected to continue growing from almost $2.2 billion in 2006 to $4.7 billion in 2011, although at a slightly slower rate of 17%, according to Green Building Materials in the U.S., a new report from SBI, Rockville, Md.

Although the public sector and commercial projects have dominated green construction, residential green construction will undoubtedly see a boom. Residential projects have different materials profiles and imply different opportunities than those in the commercial sector, particularly in their extensive use of wood. SBI said that green flooring, the slowest growing segment through 2006, will become the market's fastest grower through 2011, earning a CAGR of 45%.