Understanding green buildings market
2009 June 9
Green building is going to be a massive market, but it’s not as easy to understand as other markets.
The market is segmented into 5 clearly defined segments
- Construction and Design - If you talk to contractors and architects, they would claim that most energy savings can be accomplished through proper design and construction.
- Building Materials - Building materials comprise bricks, cement, drywall, carpets, furniture, wood flooring, windows, insulation, etc. The idea here is to produce products, like thermal windows, that reduce energy consumption, or cut the energy and natural resources used in manufacturing them.
- Hardware and Software - To reduce energy consumption or the fossil-fuel based materials in a product, you have to start with design. Simulation tools can examine a building’s performance under various environmental conditions as well as gauge the effect of putting the ovens in a kitchen close to lobby air conditioning vents. A few companies in stealth mode are expected to soon unveil design applications for net zero energy homes.
- Appliances - Appliances are otherwise known as HVAC and lights. Lighting has been perhaps the most active market in terms of VC activity and for good reason: They form the last standing vestige of the vaccum tube era.
- Energy Generation - Solar and small wind have been around for a number of years. The next big trend will to make these more unobtrusive. Several CIGS also vendors promise to come out with building-integrated photovoltaics.
Read more about this here.