(Nov. 13)

Green building will support 7.9 million U.S. jobs and push $554 billion into the American economy, including $396 billion in wages, from 2009 to 2013, according to a study from the U.S. Green Building Council and Booz Allen Hamilton.

The study also found that green construction spending currently supports more than 2 million American jobs and generates more than $100 billion in gross domestic product and wages.

In the 2000-to-2008-period, the green construction market contributed $178 billion to U.S. gross domestic product; created or saved 2.4 million direct, indirect and induced jobs; and generated $123 billion in wages, according to the study.

“Our goal is for the phrase ‘green building’ to become obsolete, by making all building and retrofits green -- and transforming every job in our industry into a green job,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chairman of the USGBC.

In addition, the study revealed that the U.S. Green Building Council’s 19,000-plus member organizations generate $2.6 trillion in annual revenue, employ about 14 million people, come from 29 industry sectors and include 46 Fortune 100 companies.

The study, which encompasses a variety of workers, including architects, construction laborers and truck drivers, was released at the USGBC’s annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo.