NAHB National Green Building Program

How Tough are these Standards? Standards would mean nothing if they didn’t represent something to work toward rather than an easily attainable goal. Do the new standards go far enough in encouraging builders to take a closer look at their environmental impact? This Denver home is both luxurious and eco-friendly. © Harvard Communities “I think the NAHB program takes meaningful steps toward green goals that are common in the building industry,” says Roy Carroll II, CEO of The Carroll Companies, a Greensboro, N.C.-based property development, construction, ownership and management group. “Each step has an added degree of design and cost that have to be looked at in the context of your business plan.” Another benefit of the program rollout is somewhat self-fulfilling promotion: Wilson says that the NAHB’s new standards have made more homebuyers aware of their options. “The efforts NAHB has made to create general awareness of their green building standards have helped us significantly by creating more awareness with the consumer,” he says. “They know what to look for and know what questions to ask to make sure they’re getting what they want and we welcome that. We’re currently building all our homes according to NAHB’s Green Building standards and have received very positive feedback from our homebuyers, community residents and city, county and state officials.” Is NAHB’s Green Building Program the Only Green Standard? The NAHB standards are one set among many competing methods of “green” accreditation right now, so builders do have a choice in what credentials they choose to seek. They don’t have to pick just one, but it costs to have a home certified, so builders and homeowners who are building usually choose one or two standards as goals. But rather than being a problem, the competition is actually good for the industry, says Paul Bierman Lytle, Chief Sustainability Officer for the Honolulu-based Group 70 International, Inc. “It is good for the industry to have competing green programs so that fees can be reasonable to the customer and the programs scrutinized and fine-tuned in order to compete,” he says. Because builders are at different levels of sustainability awareness right now, having competing programs also allows those who are just starting to practice greener methods to have certifications that are realistic for them, while those who have been building greener for a while can strive for more stringent goals.

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