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Guidelines Support Green Building Efforts in Las Vegas
The Southern Nevada Home Builders Association (SNHBA) announced earlier this month that it is working with the Green Building Initiative (GBI) to bring more environmentally sensitive home building to the Las Vegas area.
Based in Portland, Ore., the non-profit GBI is a mainstream information resource on energy efficiency and environmentally sustainable building practices that is supported by a broad cross section of groups and individuals with an interest in construction.
“Although homes built today are 100% 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,” said Rich Priesing, president of the builders association. “We believe the home building industry is playing a vital role in that effort.”
The association’s Green Building Committee is looking at NAHB’s Model Green Home Building Guidelines as the starting point for its efforts to identify green building techniques suited to the local community.
Unveiled at the International Builders’ Show in January, the guidelines provide a blueprint for creating customized, voluntary and affordable green building programs for the design and construction of single-family homes, multifamily housing, custom homes and residential remodeling projects.
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 guidelines are applied to: lot preparation and design, resource efficiency, energy efficiency, water efficiency and conservation, occupancy comfort and indoor environmental quality, and home owner education.
Benefits to owners of green homes include: 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, executive director of SNHBA. “Our intent is to work with the GBI toward the creation of a strategic plan that will benefit our members and their home buyers.”
For more information on NAHB’s green building resources and the Model Green Home Building Guidelines, e-mail Marie Yarroll at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8132.
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