Green Building 101
Green Building is broken down into three categories:
* Energy and Water Efficiency
* Renewable and Recycled Material
* Health and Comfort
In the residential construction industry there are two main ‘governing’ bodies of green building that certify homes. They are the National Association of Homebuilders (http://www.nahbgreen.org/) and the United State Green Building Council (http://www.usgbc.org/). I do not want to bore you with the history of the two organizations, but I urge you to visit their website to learn more about them.
Both the NAHB and USGBC programs address the three categories of Green Building in great detail. Both of their programs outline specific guidelines and construction techniques, as well as preferred products. Nevertheless, the programs are different. The NAHB is described by some true Green Builders as a ‘lax’ certification. The USGBC’s LEED-Home certification has a higher standard of product certification, energy efficiency, and site management.
However, despite what you might hear on the street, the NAHB and the USGBC are making strong efforts to work together. The USGBC realizes that 30% of the Green Homes built will meet their standards, and they want to see the other 70% of Green Homes meet the NAHB standard. In the upcoming months, the Ridgefield Supply Company will be hosting events to further educate you on certification programs.
