Builder Magazine - July 2008 - (Page F-12)

FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN GREEN BUILDING OR DESIGN? Single-Family Builder Custom Home Builder Multifamily Remodeler Subcontractor Residential Architect Other All 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% A Practical Option Forget environmental stewardship for a minute. Greener, sustainable construction is in builders’ best interests on economic grounds. Less than 1 Yr 1 to 2 Yrs 2 to 5 Yrs 5 to 10 Yrs More than 10 Yrs Source: Hanley Wood Market Intelligence whether a builder is saving the planet is almost irrelevant.” COMPETITIVE PRESSURE P WALKING THE TALK: More builders are identifying themselves as green. McStain Communities, for example, offers solar panels as standard in one village and a zero-energy community center (above) in another. DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A “GREEN” BUILDER? YES Single-Family Builder 39% Custom Home Builder Multifamily Remodeler Subcontractor Residential Architect Other All Source: Hanley Wood market intelligence 50% 51% 40% 55% 49% 61% 47% inn Brothers Fine Homes has two projects underway that include San Jose, Calif.’s ﬁrst LEED-certiﬁed homes with solar panels. All of the builder’s ﬁve current projects, with 273 units in various stages, will meet LEED speciﬁcations. Project manager John Moniz says Pinn’s green building is voluntary. But he also thinks it’s only a matter of time before cities impose green construction mandates. “It’s something builders will have to deal with.” The threat of mandates and stricter codes, though, isn’t the only reason builders are considering greener or sustainable alternatives to what they’re building now. Even those who reject the proposition that the housing industry bears at least some responsibility for proﬂigate consumption and decimation of natural resources can’t ignore how market forces are driving competitors and customers toward homes that promise a smaller carbon footprint and lower energy and water bills. One estimate projects a ﬁvefold increase, to $60 billion, over the next two years in the value of homes built to green standards nationwide. “There’s lots of evidence that eco-friendly homes are better built, are easier to sell, resell, or rent, and sell for more,” observes Charles Corbett, professor of operational and environmental management at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. “When those economic beneﬁts come into play, KB Home has composed its ﬁrst “sustainability report,” which will serve as its blueprint to become a leading green builder. “We’re not green yet, not even close,” admits Jeff Mezger, CEO for the Los Angeles–based builder, which ranked ﬁrst among 13 public builders in a recent survey of their green building practices. “But we’re headed there.” Kevin Morrow, manager of the NAHB’s Green Building program, thinks the housing industry is at “a tipping point.” Through April, more than 1,500 builders had signed up to use the green scoring tool on the program’s Web site. In (see page 14) Colorado, 12 ■ B U I LD E R j u ly 20 08 W W W.BUILDERONLINE.COM http://WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Builder Magazine - July 2008

Builder Magazine - July 2008 Contents Editor's Notes B-Mail Book It Green House Business Update Products National Beat Seider's Economy The Greener Good Commentary Land Planning Design Construction Marketing Ad Index Further Considerations Environmental Concerns Commentary Road to Perdition? Editor's Notes Flip Contents

Builder Magazine - July 2008

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