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PRESENT - Today, new homes are twice as energy-efficient as they were 30 years ago, thanks to cutting-edge green building techniques and technologies available for new and remodeled homes. Nationwide, roughly 61,000 homes were built using local green building program guidelines from 1990-2004. In 2004 alone, more than 14,000 green homes were constructed. NAHB recently introduced voluntary Model Green Home Building Guidelines to bring environmentally-friendly building techniques to mainstream builders and home builders associations. The guidelines offer builder and market-driven solutions in seven areas, including lot preparation and design, resource efficiency, energy efficiency, water efficiency and conservation, occupancy comfort and indoor environmental quality, and operation maintenance and homeowner education. More specifically, homes built today use a myriad of green building techniques and technologies that: Lower operating costs —homes are equipped with more efficient heating and cooling systems and use less water, resulting in lower monthly utility bills. Improved construction methods better protect homes from rain and ground water and reduce upkeep and replacement costs, while use of recycled materials helps conserve natural resources. Reduce maintenance issues —landscaping uses native or drought-resistant plants and grasses, and decks made of pressure-treated lumber or synthetic materials need no sealing or staining. Increase home value —homeowners with documented lower monthly utility bills are reporting higher re-sale values. Improve
environmental quality —moisture-control
products and low VOC paints contribute to a more comfortable indoor environment,
and efficient use of materials helps conserve natural resources.
FUTURE - Green building is a growing trend among home builders nationwide, with more than 30 successful green building programs now in existence. Eleven green building programs are owned or operated by members or affiliates of the National Association of Home Builders in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Missouri, New York, Ohio and Washington. More than 15 more will be organized with support from the Green Building Initiative, an organization created to help implement NAHB’s Model Green Home Building Guidelines in markets across the country. NAHB’s Voluntary Model Green Home Building Guidelines The voluntary Model Green Home Building Guidelines are designed to move environmentally friendly home building concepts further into the mainstream marketplace. Currently, there are approximately thirty communities throughout the U.S. that have green home building programs in place or in development. By developing the set of voluntary national guidelines, NAHB intends to help facilitate the adoption of green home building practices and the formation of additional local programs in the parts of the country not currently served by programs. In the spring
of 2003, NAHB approved a resolution supporting green building. In response
to NAHB member’s requests to provide the membership with technical guidance
to support the new green building policy, NAHB tasked the NAHB Research
Center to manage a project to develop national green home building guidelines.
Each section contains a set of provisions that explain how a builder can incorporate green building concepts into a project. In addition, local builders and green building program developers may apply points to the provisions to further define green building through a scoring methodology currently being developed. Local homebuilder associations will be given a user guide that will provide additional information and guidance on ways to customize the guidelines to accommodate local conditions. The draft presented at Fall Board in Columbus, OH was a piloting version for dissemination amongst HBAs and builders for accuracy and practicality. A number of HBAs and High Production Builders have expressed an interest in helping NAHB to pilot test the document. The deadline for pilot testing was December 1st and the final version will be rolled out during the 2005 IBS in January in Orlando, FL. Currently, NAHB staff from the Energy and Green Building Dept. are traveling throughout the country presenting the guidelines to builders and HBAs who have expressed an interest in implementing green building in their respective businesses/communities. To date over 20 HBAs have voiced their interest and support, with many more to follow in the new year. In summary,
the voluntary Model Green Home Building Guidelines are for the mainstream
home builders, many of whom are already incorporating some green building
methods and materials into their construction practices. These voluntary
guidelines will help systematize the green design and construction process
and assist the builder toward incorporating more green building features
into homes. As NAHB Research Center data indicates that there is a growing
number of green homes built annually, it is expected that these voluntary
guidelines will help builders meet the needs of this growing market.
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