Investment in Resource Efficiency One of Many Ways to Celebrate Earth Day |
| On the 41st anniversary of Earth Day, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reminds consumers that an investment in energy and resource efficiency can pay real dividends by reducing a home's energy use and the associated costs. |
| This year, the Earth Day Network is encouraging people all over the world to contribute to "a billion acts of green." |
| "Something that makes a home more resource efficient is definitely an act of green," said Eric Borsting, chair of NAHB's Green Building Subcommittee and a builder from Stockton, Calif. "And being a good steward of the earth's resources can also help a family save money on utility bills over time." |
| There are many ways that consumers can make their homes more resource efficient, such as improving insulation and installing energy efficient appliances and lighting, high performance windows and doors, on-demand water heaters, and high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, just to name a few, Borsting said. |
| And whether a family is considering a remodeling project or buying a new home, Borsting encourages them to look for a new home certified under the National Green Building Standard or plan a remodeling project that qualifies for certification. The National Green Building Standard (ICC 700 National Green Building Standard™) is the first point-based rating system for green residential construction, remodeling and land development to be approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). |
| To date, more than 2,200 residential projects nationwide have been certified under the National Green Building Standard. |
| To comply with the standard, a builder or remodeler must incorporate a minimum number of features in the following areas: |
| Lot and site development; Energy, water, and resource efficiency; Indoor environmental quality; and Home owner education. |
| Under the standard, there are four threshold levels - Bronze, Silver, Gold and Emerald. These allow builders and remodelers to quantify and qualify green building at various levels. At the Emerald level, the highest rating for a residential green building, a building must provide energy savings of 60 percent or more. |
| "Earth Day provides an opportunity for all of us to take stock of what we are doing to make the world a greener, healthier place," Borsting said. "The green building movement is going to have a significant positive impact as the years go by." |
| Visit http://www.nahbgreen.org/ for more information about green building and the National Green Building Standard. |
