Green construction has been a red hot topic lately as it continues to dominate the headlines of construction publications and news stories. Building owners are requesting sustainable solutions for their facilities more frequently and recent reports expect that trend to continue in 2016 and beyond.

The 2015 Green Building Economic Impact Study from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) predicts that “green construction will support 3.9 million jobs, provide $268.4 billion in labor earnings, and generate an additional $303.4 billion in GDP” from 2015 to the year 2018. The study, conducted by Booz Allen Hamilton, also cites that an “initial upfront ‘green investment’ of just 2% of construction costs is shown to yield life-cycle savings of more than 10 times the amount of the initial investment.”

As building and facility owners request LEED certified buildings and sustainable solutions at increasing rates, contractors will need to cater their skills and expertise to meet sustainability demands. For contractors, green building goes beyond bringing a few sustainable solutions to construction sites. Truly sustainable construction requires green initiatives that cover all aspects of a contractor’s business, from construction to daily office operations and processes.

Contractors should instill green thinking into all areas of their business from using efficient office appliances and fixtures, to encouraging employees to participate in energy conservation at work as well as at home. Promoting sustainability across job sites as well as physical office locations allows contractors to truly make an impact when working towards LEED credits on projects and sustainability as an organization.

To stay up on LEED and sustainability trends in the construction industry and beyond, click here to access articles and information from the U.S. Green Building Council.