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The economic downturn is challenging the building industry in many ways these days, but probably the most positive effect will be the growth in retrofitting existing structures rather than building new ones. Upgrading old buildings to meet current energy codes and meet healthier indoor air quality standards should be a priority. Retrofitting provides an enormous market opportunity for builders, design professionals, owners, and building product manufacturers.
Thin profile porcelain veneer tile facilitates renovation.
Currently, green building comprises 5-9% of the retrofit and renovation market activity by value, while new buildings only represent 2.5% of the US building market. This equates to a $2 - 4 billion dollar growth marketplace for major green renovation projects. This growth is expected to increase by 20 – 30% in the next five years. Harvey Bernstein, Vice President of Global Thought Leadership and Business Development at the McGraw-Hill Construction, a leading publication within the construction industry, states “It is critically important that 20-30% of all retrofit and renovation activity will be green in five years because 98% of our buildings already exist, and they represent some of our most inefficient buildings.” The construction industry should benefit on many levels by this new green economy. Metro Green Business estimates that 7.9 Million New Jobs and $554 Billion in GDP in 2009 – 2014 will be the contribution from green construction and renovations.
This renovation revolution will promote building materials that focus on saving money, saving time, saving materials, and maximizing efficiency. The idea of retrofitting a building has inspired the porcelain tile industry to come up with 2 new facelift strategies that provide surfaces to address cost, waste, and material issues. These applications are less expensive than competitive products, require no demolition of existing structural elements, and reduce raw materials in manufacturing and installation. For interior applications, thin porcelain veneer tiles are flooding the market with pattern, color, and textures for floors and walls. On the exterior, porcelain cladding provides modern façades for tired buildings with properties that help to insulate the building and control moisture issues. In the bigger picture of sustainability, innovative products like these will literally "change the face" of buildings going forward.
For more information about exterior porcelain cladding and interior porcelain veneer, please log onto our website at www.specveneer.com or contact us at 714-808-0134.
Link to The Green Economy Post article
Link to Metro Green Business article
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