Buildings contribute to global consumption of energy, resources and greenhouse effect.

As the demand for more sustainable forms of building is growing, eco-construction is becoming more profitable and desirable in the global construction market.

The market responds to this savings for both businesses and the environment at a remarkable rate. According to Data & Analytics SmartMarket 2016, the global eco-construction industry continues to double every three years, while respondents from 70 countries report that 60% of their projects will be green by 2018.

The green building is cost-effective because it uses its natural resources efficiently, reducing the unnecessary costs for energy, while at the same time contributing to a better future.

Initial investment in the green building makes it more valuable, with an average expected increase in value of 4%. Due to the reduction in maintenance and energy costs, the return on investment from the green building is fast, in just seven years.

Green buildings reduce daily costs on an annual basis. LEED-certified buildings report nearly 20% lower maintenance costs than typical commercial buildings, and green building upgrades usually reduce operating costs by nearly 10% in just one year.

In May 2017, more than 478 million square meters of building space were LEED-certified worldwide.

In Greece there are 7 buildings with a golden (GOLD) certification LEED

LEED certification is an international standard for environmental and sustainable buildings by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), with over 90,000 works in 165 countries.