In 2008 the U.S. market for 'green' building materials generated sales of almost $57 billion, according to a study from the Freedonia Group, Inc.," and "this market is projected to expand 7.2% annually to over $80 billion in 2013. Recycled concrete, certified lumber, water efficient plumbing, energy efficient lighting, and green flooring have been the most popular.

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Concrete made from recycled materials (e.g., fly ash, blast furnace slag) had the second largest share of green building materials demand in 2008. The waste materials actually enhance the performance of the concrete. Plus you'll reduce the waste headed to a landfill. Concretnetwork.com's photo gallery is an excellent source of information on what you can do with concrete.

The demand for Forest Stewardship Council FSC-certified lumber and wood panels is projected to more than triple between 2008 and 2013. This market will grow more than three times as fast as the overall market for wood panels. Look for the label FSC certifcation label to ensure that your lumber and wood panels are really green.

A FSC labelled product signifies that the wood is produced via environmentally responsible and socially beneficial forestry practices. 

Many homeowners are recognizing that energy efficient lighting is the biggest bang for the buck with respect to saving electricity and money. We envision that LEDs or Light Emitting Diodes will also get a closer look especially if it is married with solar energy. See our articles about LEDs.

The greatest absolute gains will come from green floor coverings. Today green floor coverings constitute the largest source of green building materials demand. Again, labeling is important so look for Green Label Plus-certified products made from rapidly renewable resources (e.g., bamboo and cork flooring). Cork flooring has a great selectiion of colors. Also consider using old lumber that has been reclaimed from older buildings.

Water-efficient plumbing fixtures and fittings, and energy-efficient lighting fixtures will also grow at a double digit double-digit pace through 2013. That includes water heaters and other Energy Star products that we discussed