The Green Homebuilding Trend

So what is green homebuilding?

Green homes save energy and water, use fewer resources to build, improve indoor air quality and are developed in a sustainable way.

Green homes are constructed using green building products, including recycled content materials such as decking, insulation and concrete, and lumber that has been harvested sustainably or salvaged from older buildings.

Green products include water savers such as low-flow faucets and shower heads, and energy savers like Energy Star-qualified appliances. Still other products, like paints, adhesives and alternatives to composite wood cabinetry, help to eliminate or reduce harmful/toxic chemical off-gassing.

Green buildings can also contribute to lower maintenance and operating costs with the installation of durable materials like ceramic tile, 40-year roofing, or building envelope upgrades such as improved insulation or windows.

National trends

A wave of green is sweeping the nation in both residential and commercial building. According to the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), green homebuilding programs, such as Built Green, certified more than 13,000 homes in 2002.

In the commercial arena, the U.S. Green Building Council has certified almost 60 commercial projects through its LEED Green Building Rating System and nearly 800 more have applied for green building certification.

In a 2002 poll conducted by the NAHB, 57 percent of residential builders said that environmental goals are extremely important to them. Those builders anticipate change in three major areas: open space and natural corridors for wildlife, water conservation and stormwater mitigation.

The same poll indicates consumers are willing to pay significantly more up front for energy efficiency upgrades that will reduce monthly bills. Many lenders, including Countrywide Home Loans, Fannie Mae and others, have recognized this trend and now offer special financing for purchases of green homes.

The NAHB is not the only organization supporting green building on a broad scale. National organizations such as the American Institute of Architects continue to support green building by holding national competitions that focus on green projects. In 2003, the AIA Committee on the Environment chose a residential project as one of the top 10 architectural and “green” design solutions that protect and enhance the environment.

---By Robin Rogers, "Built Green," Environmental Outlook Report