NAHB's Voluntary Model Green Home Building Guidelines

Voluntary Model Green Home Building Guidelines to move environmentally friendly home building concepts further into the mainstream market. Currently, there are approximately thirty communities in the U.S., the green housing programs in place or in development. By developing the set of voluntary national guidelines, NAHB intends to adopting the green housing practices and the formation of additional local programs in the partsof the country not currently served by programs.

In the spring of 2003, NAHB approved a resolution for green buildings. In response to requests to provide NAHB member to assist the membership with technical guidance for the new Green Building Policy to manage the task of NAHB NAHB Research Center to develop a project for the national green housing policy guidelines on.

The NAHB Research Center worked together in an open and public process with over 60 stakeholder groups, members of the HouseConstruction industry to create these guidelines. The guidelines contain six primary sections:

Lot preparation and design - with a lot of preparation and design, the developer has to demonstrate possibilities for ecologically sound building practice. Even before the foundation is poured, careful planning is present in the house effects on vegetation, soil, reduce water, as well as a house of long-term performance can be improved. This preparation can be significant value for the homeowners whoEnvironment and community. , Included for the end user, especially developers is a site, planning the installation conforms largely to this area and provides additional guidance.

Resource Efficiency - This section shows how to optimize certain framing techniques and designs effectively at home, the use of building materials. Construction waste management concepts are also discussed. It is also envisaged, such as information about a home life and the amount of time and money needed forThe need for maintenance of certain materials that are affected as used.

Energy Efficiency - This is the quantifiable aspect of green building. The information on this section will help a builder create a building envelope and incorporate energy efficient mechanical systems, appliances and lighting in a home that will yield long-term energy bill savings and greater convenience for the homeowner. It contains the only requirements to participate in this voluntary program: compliance with thethe 2003 International Energy Conservation Code, the use of ACCA manuals to size HVAC systems and 3rd party plan review to verify compliance with the section.

Water Efficiency / Conservation - Although varying the relative importance of water availability and use varies from region to region, is the concern for adequate supply of water more and more by geography. Experience also shows that employing the line items in this section of the guidelines for indoor and outdoor waterhomeowners can reduce water needs and thus reduce electricity bills, regardless of location.

Occupancy Comfort and Indoor Environmental Quality - Information in this section of the guidelines is given to establish how effectively manage moisture, ventilation, and other aspects of life in relation to the comfortable interior to.

Homeowner Education - Given the high cost a home builder goes through the creation of a well thought out home theater systems, it would be a shame not to givethe homeowner some guidance on how to operate optimally and to maintain the house. Line items from this section show how to best architect in order to educate homeowners on a variety of homeownership.

Each section contains a number of provisions, such as a builder can incorporate green building concepts in explaining a project. In addition, local builders and green-building program can developer has the provisions for more green building through a scoring procedure to define currentdeveloped. Local homebuilder associations will receive a manual that provides additional information and advice on ways to adapt the guidelines to meet local conditions is available.
The draft of the case was presented to Board in Columbus, OH was a pilot version for dissemination amongst HBAs and builders for the accuracy and appropriateness. A number of HBAs and High Production Builders have an interest brought to NAHB pilot test the document expressed. The deadline for pilot testingwas 1 December and the final version is rolled out in January 2005 at the IBS in Orlando, FL. Currently, NAHB staff from the Energy and Green Building Dept. are traveling around the country presenting the guidelines for builders and HBAs with an interest in implementing green building in their respective businesses / communities expressed. To date over 20 HBAs have confirmed their interest and support expressed, many more will follow in the new year.

In summary, the voluntary modelGreen Home Building Guidelines for mainstream home builders, many of whom already that some green building methods and materials in the construction practice. These voluntary guidelines to help systematize the green design and construction process and to assist the builder to include more green building features into homes. As an NAHB Research Center data indicate that there is a growing number of green homes built annually, it is expected that these voluntaryGuidelines will help developers to meet the needs of this growing market.