Earlier this month, McGraw-Hill Construction released a whopper of a report at the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) National Green Building Conference and Expo that provides some interesting/encouraging insight into the $17 billion green home construction and remodeling market. The 56-page “SmartMarket Report: New and Remodeled Green Homes: Transforming the Residential Market” goes into greater detail in describing the trends and key practices in green construction and remodeling and, not too surprisingly, energy-efficient features are huge … “pervasive” as a summary of the report puts it. Of the 416 builders and remodelers surveyed for the report, 80 percent said that the use of energy-efficient technologies is what’s making homes greener than they were two years ago. Also big is indoor air quality, with 60 percent of those surveyed reporting that an emphasis on indoor air quality-improving features is making homes greener compared to two years ago. More than half of builders and remodelers surveyed pinpointed the use of durable/high-quality building materials as another key practice that’s making homes more green. [Read this article]
Build Green
Builders: Energy Efficiency Matters In Green Home Construction And Remodeling
Date: 05/14/2012 | Source: Mother Nature Network 
Is HERS Home Building’s New Standard?
Date: 05/14/2012 | Source: Builder
Two years ago, questioning a group of builders about the biggest problems facing the green and energy-efficient building movement would more often than not elicit a popular complaint: There’s no industry-wide standard. While that refrain can still be heard today, it seems to be fading out as more and more builders have turned to what may be becoming the industry’s default: HERS scores. In model homes across the country, small thermometer heat charts are popping up next to thermostats as builders use their Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score to compete with other new homes and, importantly, existing-home inventory. Part of HERS’ success is likely due to the foreclosure crisis: At a time when home builders are being forced to compete with the rock-bottom prices of distressed properties, a score that can emphasize the difference in energy savings between an existing home and a new home is crucial. A score of 130, at the very top of the HERS scale, represents the energy use of an average existing home, which makes it easy for new-home builders to tout the benefits of new over used. [Read this article]
Green Homes Seen As A Good Deal
Date: 05/04/2012 | Source: EcoHome Magazine
A new report reveals key factors driving the growth of the residential green building market, most notably that they are perceived to be higher quality and better value than traditionally built homes. “New and Remodeled Green Homes: Transforming the Residential Market” estimates that the green homes share of the construction market was 17% in 2011, and predicts that it will rise to 38% by 2016, based on the five-year forecast for overall residential construction. The study, which surveyed NAHB builder and remodeler members about their green building practices, highlighted the factors driving the growth in the green home building market. It found that customers are strongly value-driven – around two-thirds of respondents state that customers request green homes or remodeling projects in order to lower their energy use or save money, more than twice any other factor. More than 80% report that energy efficiency is making today’s homes greener compared with two years ago. The use of energy-efficient features was the top practice by nearly all surveyed builders. [Read this article]
Green Energy Puts Green In Homeowner Wallets
Date: 03/07/2012 | Source: Reuters
Soaring energy costs, generous government and utility incentives plus the falling price of technology are leading more Americans to replace their conventional power or heating sources with renewable ones. “Typically what motivates homeowners to remodel is comfort and quality of life,” says Brad Queen, energy division director at the Colorado-based Center for Resource Conservation. “But it is the economics, the financials, that can ultimately make the case.” The U.S. market for solar energy systems grew by 140 percent in 2011 as costs dropped by two-fifths, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Today, there are 1.5 million U.S. households using solar water heating, and enough solar energy available to power 750,000 homes. Still, retrofitting an existing home for better efficiency can cost from $6,000 to more than $100,000 depending on the ambitiousness of the plans. But what, and when, will energy renovations ultimately pay back? Will your home’s resale value go up? [Read this article]
Report: Green Buildings Can Play Role In Disaster Preparedness
Date: 03/07/2012 | Source: Architect Magazine
Green buildings can play a significant role in community resiliency against future climate change and natural disasters, according to a new report from the USGBC and the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. The report, “Green Building and Climate Resilience: Understanding Impacts and Preparing for Changing Conditions,” says that buildings should be designed for unknown future climate conditions, not just for historical climate patterns. “Every building is designed for a specific range of conditions, such as peak temperature, storm surge, and average precipitation,” said Chris Pyke, vice president of research at USBGC. “Climate change has the potential to undermine some of these assumptions and potentially increase risks to people and property. Fortunately, there are practical steps we can take to understand and prepare for the consequences of changing environmental conditions and reduce potential impacts.” [Read this article]
Green Homes Market Expected To Increase Five-Fold By 2016 – Up From A $17 Billion Opportunity Today
Date: 02/14/2012 | Source: NAHB
McGraw-Hill Construction released findings from a new Green Home Builders and Remodelers Study at the International Builders’ Show. Green homes comprised 17% of the overall residential construction market in 2011 and are expected to grow to between 29% and 38% of the market by 2016. By value, this equates to a five-fold increase, growing from $17 billion in 2011 to $87-$114 billion in 2016, based on the five-year forecast for overall residential construction. “The housing market is critical to the U.S. economy,” said Harvey M. Bernstein, VP of Industry Insights and Alliances, McGraw-Hill Construction, “and the results of our study show that despite the drastic downturn in housing starts since 2008, green has grown significantly as a share of activity – indicating that the green market is becoming an important part of our overall economic landscape.” Many factors are driving the green homes market, with “higher quality” and “increases in energy costs” topping the list, indicating that today’s green homebuyer is not just a green consumer. Buyers recognize that green homes have lower bills due to higher building performance. [Read this article]
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