GLOBE-Net, April 5, 2010 - Towering 442 metres (1,453 feet) over New York City, the Empire State Building has been a symbol of American economic might since 1931.

So it was fitting in 2009 that the iconic high-rise became a model for the retrofitting of older buildings when it replaced windows, insulation, lighting and its ventilation monitoring system to lower its carbon footprint and become more energy sustainable.

The $13 million high profile retrofit is an example of the growing number of energy efficiency campaigns taking place in buildings around the world. And it is one of the trends that are reflected in a recent report from GreenBiz.com, "State of Green Business 2012."

The fifth annual report measures the environmental impact of the emerging green economy. It documents the progress companies are making, if any, in improving their environmental performance and tracks larger trends that impact on corporate America in 2012.

The key message from the report is that sustainability efforts continue to grow, despite countering forces. In the U.S., economic issues are pushing sustainability measures to the side as people seem more concerned about saving homes and jobs than the environment. Globally, the mantle of sustainability leadership has fallen from national governments onto the shoulders of cities, states and companies.

But environmental sustainability efforts continue to grow, often inside mainstream companies. For many, the risks and potential costs of doing nothing in the face of climate change are rising.  Many of the world's largest companies are moving forward, some aggressively, to reduce or even eliminate their greenhouse gas emissions and those of their suppliers.

The report takes stock of the trends and indicators in the world of energy sustainability. It reports on how well the world of business is doing to address sustainability concerns. Some of those trends include:

1. Energy efficiency is in a bull market: From the Empire State building to the New York Stock Exchange, companies and building owners are jumping on the energy efficiency bandwagon, replacing windows, insulation, lighting systems and upgrading to digital wireless monitoring of energy use. In Canada, Demand Side Management programs are underway at many utilities such as B.C. Hydro as companies promote energy efficiency in the home and office. The trend is expected to continue in 2012 with new innovations to make homes, vehicles, office buildings, appliances and personal devices more energy efficient. 
   
    
2. Climate change is inevitable; the world needs to prepare and smart businesses are doing just that.Energy companies facing risks to their infrastructure (power plants, substations, transmission lines) from rising sea levels and floods. Many are starting to "harden" their key assets to make them more resilient and the company better able to minimize business interruption loss. Agricultural companies are testing drought-resistant corn, and insurance companies along the Atlantic Coast are declining property coverage in some cases due, in part, to fears to increasing hurricane wind damage.
   
    
3. Small businesses will continue to drive the green economy:Smaller companies are recognizing the market potential of the green economy without regulator guidance and filling the demand for green goods and service. In the U.S., "the hiring demand for green jobs has grown by an average of 30 percent over the last few years." Many of these are new jobs, not vacancies due to attrition. The report's findings mirror similar conclusions in the recent GLOBE Advisors  study, The West Coast Clean Economy: Opportunities for Investment and Accelerated Job Creation.
   
    
4. Sustainable mobility:With more than one billion vehicles on the roads globally, a number that is expected to double by 2020, the need for smart transportation systems using less energy and producing less pollution is emerging as a key trend. Car sharing (Zipcar, HertzOnDemand, car co-op's) is becoming more popular as people opt not to buy a vehicle and instead share cars. Companies are also developing systems to make transportation smarter and more efficient as congestion increases.
   
    
5. "Gamification"will make ordinary activities fun and rewarding. Companies will continue to embrace games as a business tool for effecting behavior change. Frequent flyer and other loyalty programs are an example. Samsung, Nike and the NHL all got on board in 2011. Companies will use games to provide rewards to customers for making good, green choices. The new Nissan Leaf electric vehicle already provides constant data feedback to the driver so he/she can make more efficient energy choices.
   
    
6. Cleantech will continue to mature and do well.Despite some setbacks, the industry continues to move forward, with new innovations that are lowering consumer costs, to consolidation of industry players. "In 2011, for the first time, power plants operating on solar, wind, and biomass energy garnered more investment than those powered by natural gas, oil, and coal-$187 billion for renewables com­pared to $157 billion for fossil fuels, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance."

The "State of Green Business 2012" also provides a "Greenbiz Index", charting how U.S. companies are doing in terms of environmental performance. The report indicates a "significant decline in progress" towards cleantech investments, energy efficiency, green office space, packaging intensity, toxic emissions and toxics in manufacturing.  However it does say one indicator, green power use, has "markedly improved."

The full report with all trends and the Greenbiz Index can be found here.