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Builders Respond
to Growing Interest
in Green Homes
During National Homeownership Month in June, builders in NAHB’s 2017 Green Practices Survey
we focused on the critical role that the home plays are building with strategies that would qualify
in our lives and how NAHB members are finding for at least Bronze-level certification under the
innovative ways to build the American Dream. requirements of the 2015 National Green Building
Ongoing research by NAHB and its partners Standard™ (NGBS).
shows that many home buyers are interested in The NGBS is the only green rating system
green, sustainable and high-performance building approved by the American National Standards
practices. NAHB’s report, Housing Preferences Institute and provides third-party certification
of the Boomer Generation: How They Compare for residential construction through six key
to Other Home Buyers, asked home buyers categories: site design, resource efficiency, water
across four generations – millennials, Gen Xers, efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor environmental
baby boomers and seniors – what features they quality, and building operation and maintenance.
consider essential/desirable in a new home. Homes must meet a minimum threshold in each
Energy-efficient strategies, including ENERGY category to achieve certification.
STAR appliances and windows and above-code The Green Practices Survey also showed
insulation made the most-wanted list and would that current home building practices among
positively influence the purchase decision of respondents met Bronze level certification in
80% or more of all home buyers. Water-efficient energy efficiency for 74% of the properties and
features were also cited as essential/desirable by over half met it for water, indoor environmental
72% of respondents. quality and operation/maintenance.
Builders are responding to this interest by To help industry professionals respond to the
increasingly incorporating these strategies in new growing interest in green building, NAHB offers
home construction. the Certified Green Professional™ and Master
“Homes constructed with green, sustainable Certified Green Professional designations. These
and high-performance strategies offer home designations recognize builders, remodelers and
owners a product that can reduce their total cost other industry professionals who incorporate
of ownership through lower utility bills and can green and sustainable building
be resold at a premium in many markets,” said principles into homes.
Troy Johns, founder of Urban Northwest Homes in NAHB also offers
Vancouver, Wash. “These homes also generally educational courses
provide increased comfort and a healthier indoor in green building. Get
environment for occupants.” started at nahb.org/learn.
Approximately one-quarter of the single-family NAHB JUNE 2018
30 JULY 2018 | GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
