Green building is becoming an increasingly important aspect of construction in the retail and hotel sectors, says a recent study from McGraw Hill Construction—like ENR, a unit of McGraw Hill Financial. Fifty-two percent of retail and restaurant owners say that, within the next two years, more than half their projects will be green, up from a current 38%, and 64% of hotel owners report the same, up from 48%. The study was published this summer in McGraw Hill Construction's "Green Retail and Hospitality SmartMarket Report" in partnership with Waste Management.
For contractors that compete in these marketplaces, the past few years have made green building an essential part of their business strategy, rather than a niche.