Anti-greenies seem to forget that what keeps an economy going is not the act of making stuff, but of moving money around. If you are spending money on making your cars/roads/factories/public transit/whatever more efficient, you are creating jobs, which means money is going into bank accounts and out again into coffee shops or tax coffers or farmers or whatever, and from there on into the next place and so on and so on. When money flows, people have jobs.
Getting a massage doesn't use (much) stuff but it keeps the economy moving.
Getting someone to mow your lawn doesn't use any more stuff than if you did it yourself but it keeps the economy moving.
Building a wind farm doesn't put another widget in your hand but it keeps the economy moving (and as fossil fuel costs continue to rise, it will save you money in the long term, not to mention the huge health benefits over coal smog).
War is good for the economy (if you can afford it). Apply the same principle to your dirty infrastructure, in a way that saves you money long term, and your economy be much better for it.