Green building for several years had been a novelty, an extra, sometimes expensive, set of bells and whistles to hang on signature buildings. But over the past two or three years, concerns about the environment and global warming have brought sustainable design to the forefront of the construction industry. And with the proliferation of green products and materials, and sudden surge in energy prices, building green no longer is an expensive luxury, but an often cost-effective alternative to traditional design.
In its first ever Top Green Design Firms survey, ENR has attempted to measure the green design market. The resulting ranking of the Top 100 Green Designers (see p. 120) is based on firms’ 2007 design revenue from projects registered with, and actively seeking certification from, third-party ratings groups under objective environmental or sustainable design standards, such the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards.