Green Building Trends To Watch in 2012

Green Building will not be immune to the overall trends in the economy and the real estate industry, but the market is still poised for growth, albeit growth that may be focused around "frugal green" amenities.

Trends in the U.S. include continued growth in LEED for Existing Buildings certifications, which will likely exceed registrations for new construction for the second year in a row. Net-zero energy buildings will gain traction and water issues will continue to grow in importance.

Yudelson also sees performance disclosure, which is already prevalent in the European Union and Australia, becoming widespread in U.S. cities as prospective tenants seeks to compare energy costs between buildings.