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holdaroundtable,representativesfromthelocalsoftwareindustrymetwiththeMayorto <br />discusshowtheirsectorcouldbeexpanded.Inaddition,becausealocalgroupwasalready <br />discussingsustainableevents,theSBIdidnotholdaroundtable.However,thisgroupsubmitted <br />recommendationstotheSBIonhowtogrowthesustainableeventssector,whichareincluded <br />here. <br /> <br />TheGreenBuildingindustryisgrowingrapidlyandholdspotentialtostrengthen <br />andexpandthelocalarchitecture,design,construction,buildingmaterials,landscaping,and <br />reuseandrecyclingindustrieswhilegeneratingqualityjobsandreducinggreenhousegases <br />andotherenvironmentalimpacts.Greenbuildingcanbeas,?Awhole-buildingand <br />systemsapproachtodesignandconstructionthatemploysbuildingtechniquesthatminimize <br />environmentalimpactsandreducetheenergyconsumptionofbuildingswhilecontributingto <br />3 <br />thehealthandproductivityofitsoccupants.? <br />IntheU.S.,buildingscontributeto30%ofgreenhousegasemissions,wasteoutput,andraw <br />materialuse;70%ofallelectricityuseand12%ofallpotablewateruse.Greenbuilding <br />practicesaddresstheseissuesthroughpracticessuchas:energyandwaterdesigns <br />andtechnologies;useofnon-toxicmaterials(paints,glues,solvents);naturallandscaping;use <br />ofrenewableenergy(passivesolar,solarhotwater,solarphotovoltaics);reduceduseofvirgin <br />rawmaterials,carefulmaterialselection,useofthird-partysustainablewoodproducts; <br />reductionsinstormwaterrunoffthroughonsitedesignandstorage;andrecyclingandreuseof <br />constructionmaterials. <br />Researchshowsthatonaverage,buildinggreenresultsinlifecyclesavingsof20%ofconstruction <br />costsforanadditionalupfrontdesigncostof2%.Inaddition,greenbuildingsimprove <br />productivity.Forexample,onestudyfoundthatsalesinstoreswithskylightswere <br />upto40%higherthaninsimilarstoreswithoutskylights.AnotherstudydonebyCarnegie <br />MellonUniversityfoundthatincreasedcontroloverlightingledtoanaverageof7.1% <br />higherproductivity. <br />TheUnitedStatedGreenBuildingCouncilLeadershipinEnergyandEnvironmentalDesign <br />(LEED)ratingsystemestablishedstandardsforgreenbuildingsthathavehelpeddrivethe <br />sector?sexpansion.In2005,greenbuildingmadeup$7.4billionoftheconstructionmarket, <br />4 <br />havinggrown37%sincetheyearbefore.Thosearepredictedtoriseto$19-$38billion <br />and5%-10%ofresidentialconstructionactivityby2010.Thenumberofpeopleengagedin <br />5 <br />greenbuildinggrewby20%in2005andisexpectedtoincreasebyanother30%in2006. <br />OurresearchfoundthegreenbuildingindustryinEugeneissmallbutgrowing.Itincludes <br />architectural/engineering/consultingcontractorsanddevelopers,construction <br />anddemolitioncompanies,avarietyoftradessuchaselectriciansandplumbers, <br />productmanufacturers(e.g.windows),theirsuppliers(primarilywoodproducts),retail <br />outlets,governmentregulators,andconsumers.Inaddition,privateandrecycling <br />organizationsandsomemanufacturingcompaniescollectconstructionandproductionwaste <br />andsellittootherbusinesses. <br /> <br />