Consumers, professionals continue to select green building materials despite tough economic climate, expect product interest to grow over next five years, finds survey by Krantz Select Woods of Austin, Texas

Wendy Lisney

LOS ANGELES , February 6, 2012 (Industry Intelligence) – Consumers and professionals are continuing to seek environmentally responsible materials for their building and design projects, despite current tough economic conditions, an informal customer survey by Krantz Select Woods of Austin, Texas, has found.

Krantz polled its customers to gage attitudes to green building materials and find out how they were being used, the company said in a statement issued on Jan. 26.

Seventy-two per cent of consumer respondents polled, and 57% of the building professionals taking part, said that green building materials were more important now than they were five years ago.

But the survey did reveal that the recession has slowed the progress of some green building projects. Around a third of consumer respondents and half of professional respondents said they had put at least one green building project on hold due to the economy.

Jimmy Krantz, owner of Krantz Select Woods, said the findings confirmed the company's day-to-day observations that green building materials are in high demand regardless of economic conditions.

The survey also identified other factors influencing product choice. While 39% of total respondents listed environmental factors as key priorities in selecting green building materials, 31% listed aesthetics and 30% listed cost savings, including rebates.

Survey responses indicated that confidence and interest in sustainable building materials and practices are expected to grow. Approximately 60% of consumer respondents and 57% of professional respondents said they anticipated an increase in the importance of green building and sustainable materials in the next five years for their building and construction projects.

The primary source of this article is a press release issued by Krantz Select Woods, Austin, Texas, on Jan. 26, 2012.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.