The "green" signs of success have been on the walls of homes, commercial buildings and other property types for several years, and they are increasingly being erected by savvy (and profitable) builders nationwide. From the winning element in the Builder's Choice award competition, to builders self-mandating the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED certification, to a recent American Institute of Architects (AIA) survey that found a sharp rise in homeowner preference for residential kitchens featuring eco-friendly and sustainable materials, "green" is here to stay. The good news for builders is that there is still time to get into the "green" mix.
"Green building is here to stay. Over time, I think green building methods will become an essential part of home construction because the more consumers learn about green building, the more they'll demand green building features in their homes," said Nigel Maynard, Builder's Senior Editor. "While some green practices require more investment, many are cost-effective for both builders and buyers."
"However the American home buying public responds to the daily news, though, builders must continue to keep their eyes on the numbers," adds Denise Dersin, Builder's Editor in Chief. "Sales, starts, inventory, prices, economic forecasts of these and other metrics are crucial in determining how to best conduct their business."
One Florida homebuilder takes Dersin's advice to a whole new level. K2 Urbancorp LLC, announced that it will only build homes that meet the tough new green building standards formally adopted by the USGBC. As a leading advocate of new urbanism in north Florida and one of the state's most innovative development companies, the company is currently in the second phase of creating a new traditional neighborhood community named, "Evening Rose in Tallahassee." The $80 million, 36-acre, in-fill development will feature 132 homes and a walkable town center with more than 120,000-square-feet of retail, restaurant, commercial, and live-work space. Construction on the initial homes is complete and USGBC certification is anticipated on what will be North Florida's first LEED certified homes.
"We are incredibly proud to be at the forefront of what is becoming a national movement in home building. Building the highest quality homes and meeting the industry's strictest standards for sustainability, environmental construction and energy conservation, from the ground up, is the future of homebuilding in America," said K2 Urbancorp CEO David Wamsley. "Further, we are demonstrating that this can be accomplished without increasing the cost of a home to consumers."
Steven Winter, of Steven Winter Associates and chairman of USGBC from 1999 to 2003, congratulated K2 Urbancorp on its comprehensive commitment to the USGBC LEED for Homes standards. "It's inspiring to see a builder truly be innovative, and to apply these rigorous national standards, to every home they build going forward."
The U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for high performance green buildings. The voluntary rating system sets the standard for design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings, giving building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their building's performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
Demand for "green" products has achieved permanency in international dialog as well and products are pouring into this country to meet demand. For example, Arclinea San Diego, a full-service kitchen design firm and distributor of the Arclinea Collection of contemporary Italian kitchens, is committed to the design and manufacture of environmentally friendly kitchens.
"Considering that the kitchen is the heart of the home, both philosophically and practically, it is increasingly important that this living space be a healthy, ecologically intelligent one," said Lisa Wilson-Wirth, president and owner of Arclinea San Diego. "Arclinea kitchens reflect a spirit of design that respects our living earth and the people who inhabit it."
In addition to utilizing water-based paints and lacquers, Arclinea's environmental commitment includes reduced consumption of raw materials, its constructive components feature Ecological Panels fabricated from 100 percent recycled and regenerated wood; use of recycled and recyclable materials, its solid acrylic panel that is UV- and scratch-resistant; green manufacturing strategies, like its energy regeneration plant that turns production-waste into fuel.
"Homeowners do not need to sacrifice material quality or aesthetics when planning a kitchen that includes green design principles," shared Jeremy Gleiberman, project architect, Arclinea San Diego. "Arclinea custom cabinets go through comprehensive product and safety testing and offer superior durability over time. We provide our clients with a turnkey design solution for achieving a luxurious, modern kitchen in an environmentally sensitive way."
Those who think "green" is a fad may one day soon be looking for new work. Savvy builders have read the signs and adjusted their business offerings. The good news is there is still time to read the signs and adjust accordingly. Green is good for building, and profits, too.
