NAHB Green Building Standard Announced at International Builders’ Show

Orlando, Fla.–Emphasizing green building’s marketability and upbeat consumer message, the National Association of Home Builders announced its National Green Building Program on Thursday, which had been designated as Green Day at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla.”This is a historic day for our association,” said Bob Jones, an NAHB vice president and a builder in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. “This program allows all home builders to build green in a cost-effective way. Builders and consumers can select the green features that make the most sense for them.”Homes will be tested and scored by a national network of verification experts–whom the NAHB will certify and train but remain independent from–using a bronze, silver and gold scale that begins at 37 points for bronze and at 100 for gold, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports.In addition, the NAHB has created a Web site, www.nahbgreen.org, that features an online scoring tool that gives points for a home’s green features.The U.S. Green Building Council released its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes guidelines several months ago; however, LEED for Homes differs from NAHB’s green policy because the NAHB guidelines were designed to encourage builders to use green principles in a cost-effective way, according to Jones.”This is a voluntary, market-driven, flexible and affordable program,” said Jones. “Green building, like all building, is local.”The NAHB program also includes green remodeling guidelines.