The popularity of green buildings achieved new heights in last year (2008). As the number of sustainable builders in commercial and residential construction is increasing, this trend, including its tools, tactics & techniques, is likely to define new boundaries of the green building segment in 2009. Green building is benefiting the builders, creating not only environmental but also economic impact. They are making money for builders and saving money for occupants. The result is manifested from rapid increase in the number of customers interested in buying green, and in the number of builders interested in building green.

Though it is growing, it is changing as well to the benefit of earth, the economy and the end user. The green building is still in its infancy, and to stay ahead of the learning curve it must adopt to new trends. Here are the five hot trends that the green building industry will see in this year.

Boom in Green Business

: The green builders are looking for new strategies to differentiate themselves within the confines of a down economy. The green business not just includes buildings, but sales, marketing, project management too, and all those business-related areas in which green can help builders improve and salvage their businesses. Builders are looking for a competitive edge and are seeking more education. They are creating the way for new credentials, such as the Green Building Certification Institute’s LEED Accredited Professional and NAHB’s Certified Green Professional designations. See Green Buildings Associations

Pay Less Get More : Third party verification is increasingly essential but no longer the formal certification is. From the sales and marketing perspective, LEED certification is useful but not essential. Even for doing all these, companies are no longer hiring expensive consultants. They prefer to do it at half the cost. Green building companies are now focusing more on the ROI instead of PR of green, considering the long-term savings that green includes. One can see significant rise in green remodels and in deconstruction. These two green building disciplines are supposed to produce substantial long-term savings over new construction and traditional demolition. Expectation for ROI is producing an increase in the demand for green building consultants and energy auditors. Audits are becoming an integral part of the green building process, as they assess a building’s performance in pursuit of maximum energy savings.

Governments Go Green

: The demand of green buildings have reached new heights in last few years due to consumer's increasing interests and awareness towards the environment. From this year, the demand is further expected to be fueled as governments mandates and incentives have started flowing in this sector. It can be seen in $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, passed by Congress this February. This act incorporates numerous provisions that are likely to push-up the green building movement in coming years, such as loan guarantees for renewable energy projects, and tax credits for homeowners who add energy-efficient furnaces, air conditioners, and windows to their homes.

New Green Materials : 2008 was the year of surface materials like tiles, light bulbs, flooring, etc. All such materials were given much value and emphasis, but the physical materials used by green builders are changing too. 2009 would be the year of internal materials. Builders will pay more attention to spray foam insulation and to energy-efficient HVAC systems. Energy-efficient doors and windows hardware, and eco-friendly alternatives to drywall will attract attention. Boom in usage of bio-composite materials is supposed to be seen from this year. Plastics made from corn that can be used to manufacture from doors to cabinet hardware to everything will be a hit.

Green to be Refined : The last few years have seen the green building movement coming to popularity. Everyone was talking about green and taking it with both hands. But this year not only the name will work. 2008 was the year for the builders to go green, 2009 will be the year for them to define green. People will ask, ‘What does green really mean?' and ‘Is that really green?’. Ratings and verification will come to the fore, not only for green building materials but also for green products used inside these buildings. That indicates the rising awareness and interests of people in saving their environment.