BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. - Profitability of America’s corporations will be closely tied to proactive sustainability practices and green building principles, according to findings from McGraw-Hill Construction’s part of The McGraw-Hill Co., SmartMarket™ Report: Greening of Corporate America. Commissioned by Siemens Building Technologies Inc. and Siemens USA, the study shows that most U.S. corporate leaders are interested in sustainability, with the majority looking at proactive ways to make it a consistent part of their mission.

According to the study’s findings, 18 percent of responding corporate leaders are in the upper or market transformational stages, with 15 percent viewing sustainability as a competitive advantage and 3 percent actually driving their entire businesses through this value-driven lens. Over the next three years, more companies see themselves as entering this top tier, with nearly one-third of the sample aiming to be market leaders in sustainability. Research analysis demonstrates that the majority of large U.S. corporations are poised to embrace green as a cornerstone of their corporate philosophy. The data indicates a tipping point in corporate America, from those mostly uninvolved, to mostly involved in green, will be reached in early 2009, but perhaps as soon as next year.

Rising energy costs were identified as a fundamental driver of green building in corporate America, with an overwhelming 75 percent of participants listing that trend as a major motivator. The study found that 63 percent of CEOs recognize financial benefits of green building and 67 percent see a specific operating cost benefit from green.

For more information, visit www.usa.siemens.com.

Publication date: 05/14/2007