“This is the first-time the leaders of corporate America have been polled on their opinions toward Green and Green building,” says Bob Dixon, senior vice president and global head energy, Environmental Solutions. “It is important because we now know leaders view green facilities as a significant component of any overall green strategy,” he added.
The new study, commissioned by Siemens Building Technologies and Siemens USA, shows that the majority of large U.S. corporations are ready to embrace “green” as a part of their corporate philosophy, and a “green tipping point” in corporate America will be reached in early 2009, but could occur as soon as 2007, according to the study.
Key findings of the study include:
- Green and Green Building will emerge as a prominent corporate trend in the next 1-3 years.
- The majority of respondents believe their companies will be aligned with “green” industry practices within the next 3 years.
- 3 in 10 respondents believe their company will emerge as a market leader in “green.”
- Corporate leaders recognize the importance of green and green building, but need to balance their business obligations to shareholders and first address issues of cost and profits.
- 40 percent of respondents consider green and green building to be of high importance to their organization.
- Almost 60 percent of respondents agree that green and green building would lower operating costs.
- 43 percent of respondents view green as part of their company’s growth strategy.
- Escalating energy costs are key drivers of interest in green and green building for three-quarters of the surveys respondents.
Siemens contracted the study from McGraw Hill Construction to achieve a better understanding of current attitudes and trends among the private sector toward green and green buildings.
Participants were asked to rate their organization in five stages of green development, Stage 5 being “The company approaches business as a holistic, restorative way” decreasing to Stage 1 representing “Green is not part of the company mission.“
