February 4, 2009 - The NAHBGreen network almost tripled in size when the National Association of Home Builders National Green Building Program welcomed 35 new state and local home builders associations and their green certification and education programs this week.

 

NAHBGreen continues to gain momentum across the U.S. as home builders incorporate more sustainable features in new homes in response to consumer demand, said Joe Robson, NAHB Chairman and a home builder in Tulsa, Okla.

 

“NAHBGreen provides home buyers with the assurance that their new home has been built to a national  benchmark for sustainable, environmentally-friendly construction with features that are also designed to save them money throughout the life of their home,” Robson said.  “I’m proud to welcome these state and local affiliates to this growing network.”

 

The new affiliates include longstanding green building programs such as Build Green of King and Snohomish Counties in Washington, which has certified more than 13,000 homes since its founding in 1997, and new programs such as the green council formed by the Carbon Builders Association in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

 

In addition to serving as a conduit for home builders or buyers seeking National Green Building Certification, NAHBGreen affiliates also educate their members and provide special green events for consumers, such as expos or parades of homes highlighting green construction.

 

“By providing a nationally recognized third-party inspection and certification program, educational resources and industry recognition, NAHBGreen delivers value to our builders and their buyers,” Robson said.

 

Green building is more dynamic and more responsive to consumers’ needs when it is voluntary, flexible and regionally appropriate, he pointed out.

 

“NAHBGreen is a market-driven program,” Robson said. “Five of the top ten home features most frequently rated as ‘desirable or essential/must have’ in NAHB’s latest Consumer Preference Survey were energy-related. These included a high level of insulation, equipment-based energy saving measures, and ENERGY STAR-rated windows, among others.”

 

NAHBGreen also includes the Certified Green Professional™ educational designation, which has been earned by more than 2,000 builders, remodelers and other industry members; education and networking opportunities like the NAHB National Green Building Conference, which will celebrate its 11th anniversary May 8-10 in Dallas; and National Green Building Certification and verifier training from the NAHB Research Center.

 

In addition to the Washington program, among the new affiliates are six long-established residential green building programs, including:

 

Earthcraft House, Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association
Green Build Kentucky, Home Builders Association of Kentucky
Green Home Builders of the Triangle, Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties & Home Builders Association of Raleigh, N.C.
Green Built North Texas, Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas
The Green Building Initiative, Home Builders Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri
Built Green of King and Snohomish Counties, Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, Wash.

 

Other NAHBGreen affiliates include:

 

Huntsville/Madison County, Alabama Builders Association
California Building Industry Association
Home Builders Association of Connecticut
Home Builders Association of Delaware
Tallahassee Builders Association, Florida
Florida Home Builders Association
Northern Idaho Builders and Contractors Association
Builders Association of Kosciusko-Fulton County
Indy Green Build, Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis
Green Build Indiana, Indiana Builders Association, Inc.
Green Build Kansas, Kansas Building Industry Association
Topeka Home Builders Association, Kansas
Crescent City Green, Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans
Home Builders Association of Western Massachusetts
Green Build Grand Traverse, Home Builders Association of Grand Traverse, Michigan
Little Traverse Association of Home Builders, Michigan
Green Built Michigan, Michigan Association of Home Builders
Home Builders Association of Jackson, Mississippi
Home Builders Association of Mississippi
Central Missouri Green Built Program, Home Builders Association of Jefferson City and Central Missouri Building Industry Association
Home Builders Association of Springfield, Missouri
Missoula Green Building Initiative, Missoula Home Building Association, Montana
Montana Green Building Program, Montana Building Industry Association
Southern Nevada Home Builders Association
Build Green New Hampshire, Home Builders and Remodelers Association of New Hampshire
Build Green New Jersey, New Jersey Builders Association 
New York State Builders Association
Carteret County Home Builders Association, North Carolina
Home Builders Association of Gaston County, North Carolina Green Built Council, Greenville-Pitt County Home Builders Association, North Carolina
Haywood County Home Builders Association, North Carolina
Triad Green Building Council, Greensboro Builders Association
Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association
Building Industry Association of Central Ohio
Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa, Oklahoma
Oklahoma Home Builders Association
Carbon Builders Association, Pennsylvania
Home Builders Association of Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania
Keystone Green Building Initiative, Home Builders Association of Bucks and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania
Lackawanna Home Builders Association Building & Living Green Program, Pennsylvania
Lowcountry Green Building Alliance, Hilton Head Area Home Builders Association, South Carolina
Johnson City Home Builders Association, Tennessee
Green Building Council, Home Builders Association of Middle Tennessee
Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Vermont
Fredericksburg Area Builder Association, Virginia
Northern Virginia Building Industry Association
Building Industry Association of Clark County, Washington
Central Washington Home Builders Association
Madison Area Builders Association, Wisconsin