Sustainable Building Resource Directory Home Sustainable Building Resource Directory















 
Benefits of Green Homes
 
Benefits to the Homebuilder
 
For today's homebuilders, green building means the resource-efficient design, construction, and operation of homes. It represents an approach to both building and marketing homes that highlights environmental quality-both inside and outside the home.

In 1991, there was one local program in the United States giving market recognition to green builders and their homes -- the City of Austin's Green Builder program. Today, there are 30 programs nationwide with more under development. VSBN is working with the Home Builders Association of Virginia and the Blue Ridge Home Builders Association to develop an HBA-endorsed Green Builder Program in the state. Nationwide, there were 18,887 homes built to local green building program guidelines from 1990-2001. In 2002 alone there were 13,224 green homes built.

As shown by the numbers, there is strong growing interest among homebuyers to demand and pay for Green home features and among homebuilders to tap existing and developing new market demand for these homes.

Benefits for the Home Buyer
 
Homebuyers are increasingly recoginizing the value in Green homes because they are linking resource efficiency to:
  • Lower operating costs -- homes that require less heating/cooling and use less water have lower monthly utility bills. More durable building components reduce upkeep and replacement costs.
  • Lower maintenance -- in most families today free time is the most precious commodity. Lawns that require less watering/weeding and decks that need no sealing/staining are more than welcomed.
  • Increased home value -- more and more homeowners are reporting better selling value with documented lower monthly utility bills and more buyers are asking about home performance. There is also a segment of the population that places a higher value on homes that are "green."
  • Improved environmental quality -- builder attention to items such as moisture control or use of low VOC paints can contribute to a more comfortable and healthy indoor environment. Builder attention to overall resource efficiency can contribute to a better local environment.
Benefits for the Community
 
As a local Green homebuilder, you can contribute to the long-term sustainability of your community because you have:
  • helped maintain air and water quality through resource sensitive design and construction;
  • used local or regional building products and services,
  • decreased landfill waste because of construction waste management that recycles or reuses materials; and
  • contributed to the national economic and energy security by using less fossil-fuel based energy.
(Information adapted from NAHB Research Center, Technote, May 2003.)

Next page: Elements of Green Design   

 
  
 
Printer-Friendly Page   Printer-friendly version
 

Virginia Sustainable Building Network The Sustainable Building Resource Directory website is sponsored by the Virginia Sustainable Building Network, an organization that brings together representatives from diverse sectors who are interested in building healthy, environmentally friendly buildings and sustainable communities. Disclaimer.

Copyright © 2008 Virginia Sustainable Building Network.