The Southern Nevada Home Builders Association has joined with the Green Building Initiative to bring more environmentally sensitive homebuilding to the Las Vegas Valley.
SNHBA, the largest and oldest trade association representing the local residential construction industry, and GBI, started work to develop a local green building program in 2005.
The association's Green Building Committee developed the localized requirements for participation in the program. Click here to read the program requirements.
There's more information for the home building industry about the PROCESS, FEES AND FORMS to participate in the Green Building Partnership by clicking here.
Local home building companies that have signed up to participate in the Green Building Partnership are: Concordia Homes, Pinnacle Homes, Pulte Homes, R/S Development LLC, Signature Custom Homes and Signature Homes.
In November 2007, the Green Building Partnership announced that the model homes at Pulte Homes’ Timber Creek subdivision in northwest Las Vegas are the first homes in Southern Nevada to achieve certification by the program as verifiable “green-built” homes.
GBI, based in Portland, Ore., is a not-for-profit organization supported by a broad cross section of groups and individuals with an interest in construction. GBI is a resource for mainstream, common sense information about energy efficiency and environmentally sustainable building practices commonly called “green building.” Visit www.thegbi.org for more information. Visit the GBI's Resources page for more sources of information about green and sustainable building practices, products and services.
"Although homes built today are 100 percent more energy-efficient than housing built during the 1970s, the goal is to raise the bar on energy conservation and efficient use of our finite resources. We believe the homebuilding industry is playing a vital role in that effort,” said longtime homebuilder Harry Shull, 2007 president of the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association.
SNHBA’s Green Building Committee, which first met in May 2005, looked at the “Model Green Home Building Guidelines” from the National Association of Home Builders as the starting point for green building techniques suited for this community. The committee consists of some 30 stakeholders, including representatives from builders, trade contractors, engineers, product suppliers, utility companies and the local governmental jurisdictions.
Unveiled at a press conference at the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla., in January 2005, the guidelines are meant to serve as a blueprint to create customized, voluntary green building programs, while maintaining housing affordability. They were developed by a stakeholder group of nearly 60 builders, environmentalists, government agencies and product manufacturers to provide a baseline for practical green building approaches for the residential construction industry.
The guidelines were developed for the design and construction of single-family homes, multifamily housing, custom homes, and residential remodeling projects.
The fundamental green building principles include: minimizing solar heat gain, maximizing natural light and ventilation, creating a cool shell, ensuring efficient heating and cooling, using efficient appliances and lights, and choosing “green” construction materials.
The NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines contains six primary sections:
Lot Preparation and Design – Careful planning can reduce the home’s impact on vegetation, soil and water. In addition, a home’s long-term performance can be enhanced.
Resource Efficiency – The goal is to effectively optimize the use of building materials, and manage and reduce construction waste. This also includes a home’s durability and maintenance.
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Energy Efficiency – This is regarded as the most quantifiable aspect of green building because of the use of energy codes and standards. The goal is to create a building envelope and incorporate energy efficient mechanical systems, appliances and lighting into a home that will yield long-term utility cost savings and increase homeowners’ comfort. The significant majority of production homebuilders in Southern Nevada already participate in “Energy Star,” a voluntary energy conservation program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and private industry. All local new housing and remodeling is governed by the tougher International Energy Conservation Code, which is more in line with the rigorous energy conservation requirements of Energy Star.
Water Efficiency/Conservation – This section provides guidelines for indoor and outdoor water use that can decrease a homeowner’s need for water and thus reduce utility bills. SNHBA and the Southern Nevada Water Authority partnered to create the "Water Smart Home" program to further improve water conservation and efficiency in new-home construction. The Water Smart Home program participating home builders are: Astoria Homes, K/B Home Nevada, Pulte Homes/Del Webb, R/S Development and Warmington Homes Nevada. Water Smart Home is expected to serve as a model for water-conservation in other parts of the country.
Occupancy Comfort and Indoor Environmental Quality – The goal is to effectively manage moisture, ventilation and other indoor air quality issues to create a comfortable living environment for the home’s residents.
Homeowner Education – Guidance to the homeowner about how to optimally operate and maintain the new home, given its “green building” features.
Homeowners are expected to realize direct benefits by owning a green home: lower operating costs, increased comfort, improved indoor environmental quality, and enhanced durability and less maintenance.
“Our members have continually shown their dedication to the principles of green building as evidenced by their commitment to the Energy Star and Water Smart Home programs,” said Irene Porter, SNHBA executive director. “Our intent is to work with the GBI toward the creation of a strategic plan that will benefit our members and their homebuyers.”
Homebuilders who are interested in learning more about the participation in the local Green Building Partnership should contact Connie Suckling at the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association at (702) 794-0117 or via e-mail connie@snhba.com.
0r visit the Web site, www.nvgreenbuilder.com for more information about the process, fees and forms to participate.
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