Demand for green construction and its economic impact has exploded in recent years despite the tough economy. Green building now supports more than 2 million jobs and generates more than $100 billion in gross domestic product, according to the U.S. Green Building Council.

But one industry — a major consumer of energy and producer of waste to boot — has been slow to the sustainable construction craze: Health care.

That’s beginning to change say industry officials, especially with the launch of a new green building standard specifically tailored for health care facilities. A growing number of hospitals and clinics are embracing environmentally friendly design and construction as a way to counter soaring health care costs and improve the health and productivity of patients and employees.

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