Regional and Local Residential Green Building Programs
Regional and local green building programs exist in a number of cities and states where resident demand is strong enough to support ongoing local initiatives. These programs vary in the types of services they provide. Some are only a resource for information, while others can provide third party certification of building projects.
The more robust programs that offer full certification services include:
- Green Built Home (Wisconsin Environmental Initiative) Madison, WI: Green Built Home is a national award winning green building initiative that reviews and certifies new homes and remodeling projects that meet sustainable building and energy standards. The program is implemented in partnership with the Madison Area Builders Association in cooperation with other participating builders associations, leading utilities and organizations that promote green building. GBH, affiliated with the NAHB National Green Building Program, is also available as a co-branded home certification.
- Built Green Washington (serves 30 Counties in WA): Built Green® Washington is a nonprofit cooperative representing local Built Green programs throughout the state of Washington. Built Green programs have been serving as a resource for Washington homebuilders and homeowners since 1996 and are among the most respected local green building programs in the nation. Each local Built Green program sets its own criteria for certification. Some programs only certify new single-family homes; some certify communities, remodels, and multi-family projects as well.
- EarthCraft House, Atlanta, GA and Richmond, VA: EarthCraft House is a green building program that serves as a blueprint for healthy comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment. The aim of the program is to help home builders be leaders in smart growth management and environmental stewardship. In Atlanta and the metro area, over 4,000 EarthCraft House single family homes and over 1,500 EarthCraft Multifamily dwelling units have been certified.
- Florida Green Building Coalition, Tallahassee, FL: The Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) is a nonprofit Florida corporation dedicated to improving the built environment. Our mission is "to provide a statewide green building program that defines, promotes, and encourages sustainable efforts with environmental and economic benefits."
- Austin Energy Green Building, Austin, TX: Austin Energy's portfolio of energy efficiency programs is among the most comprehensive in the nation. Our programs and offerings serve homeowners and businesses.
- EarthAdvantage, Portland, OR: Earth Advantage National Center opened in 2001, offering a cutting-edge energy efficiency and sustainable design resource. The facility is designed to help homebuilders, architects, contractors and homeowners design houses that use energy and resources wisely.
- Build It Green California, Berkeley, CA: Build It Green is a membership supported non-profit organization whose mission is to promote healthy, energy- and resource-efficient homes in California. Established in 2003, we offer a comprehensive package of local government support, professional training, collaboration forums, consumer education, and green product marketing to a range of stakeholders.
- NC Healthy Built Homes, Raleigh, NC: The NC Healthy Built Homes Program provides a certificate for homes meeting "green home guidelines" built by residential builders who practice sustainable, high performance building strategies making the home a comfortable, healthy and affordable place that reduces energy and water usage, promotes renewable energy use and helps protect the land where the home is built.
Though national programs may be more recognizable to home buyers, many of the regional programs are able to deliver more hands-on services to verify onsite compliance with standards and overall building performance. For that reason, local providers are often contracted by LEED and the NAHB to administer their certification processes (see LEED provider list and NAHB Verifier list for local organizations).
BENEFIT
Regional programs can provide more effective outreach and complete services because they are local and can work directly with builders to train and advise them on
best practices.
RISKS
If a builder chooses to certify their home with a regional organization, buyers may be less aware of the standard and added value if they are not from the area.
COST
Local programs are generally less expensive than national certifiers because they have a smaller area to cover. Due to lower national recognition, these groups cannot demand high premiums for their certification.
Any party with an interest in an initiative.Energy that comes from sources that are not depleted by use. Examples include energy from the sun, wind, and small (low-impact) hydropower, plus geothermal energy and wave and tidal systems.Energy efficiency is the process of using less energy to produce the same or increased functions. Often used mistakenly as a synonym for ENERGY CONSERVATION. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to measure energy efficiency. It provides a standard for environmentally sustainable construction.The ability or potential of a physical body to do work. The most common forms of energy are heat, light, mechanical (moving parts), and electrical.
