According to a new study, 2009 will be a big year of growth in the green building market. McGraw-Hill Construction’s recently published “Green Outlook 2009: Trends Driving Change” projects a “possible tripling in the value of eco-friendly construction starts to reach as much as $140 billion.” Given its recent forecast for a 7% drop in overall construction starts, the “green growth” means the greening building market could represent more than a quarter of the overall construction market within a few years.

In September, McGraw-Hill Construction released a similarly optimistic study predicting a “big jump” in the growth and profits in green construction worldwide. “Green growth is phenomenal across the globe,” Harvey M. Bernstein, McGraw-Hill Construction’s vice president of Industry Analytics, Alliances and Strategic Initiatives, said in a statement announcing the report. “The business opportunities afforded by green building, even in the midst of a global economic crisis, are real and recognized by industry players.”

In this economy, we’ll take this as further proof that businesses are recognizing the duel bottom line of sustainable construction, where thoughtful design and responsible construction can save money and resources.

Here’s a report from GreenerBuildings.com.