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Indiana Community Earns Green Land Development Certification
A neo-traditional community in Northwest Indiana is the first in the country to earn land development certification under the National Green Building Standard, NAHB announced last week.
The 60-acre parcel was assembled from unused farm fields and old commercial sites in the town of Burns Harbor, a once-dying steel town an hour from Chicago by train. The successful — and documented — focus on environmental stewardship earned the development its certification.
Approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in January, the ICC-700-2008 National Green Building Standard sets benchmarks and a verification protocol for single-family homes, apartments and condominiums; remodeling; lot and site development; and all kinds of residential construction.
Already, more than 1,000 new homes, renovation projects and subdivisions are in the scoring process for the standard at www.nahbgreen.org, the online home of the NAHB National Green Building Program. “That is indicative of explosive growth in the two months since the standard was approved,” said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson. “It’s another demonstration of how NAHB is leading the green building movement to the benefit of the environment and American home buyers.”
In laying out the Village in Burns Harbor, developer T. Clifford Fleming protected environmentally sensitive areas, preserving existing vegetation and the natural water and drainage features on the site while adding more plants native to the Upper Midwest.
The high-density residential areas are connected by sidewalk to the town center, and two South Side railroad line stations are within five miles of the development, providing easy access for commuting. Interstate 94 also runs alongside the development.
When completed, the community will include a mix of 265 single-family, semi-detached and multifamily homes and a town center with retail, residential and commercial development. Sixty homes have already been completed, including two single-family homes built by Coolman Communities that were certified earlier this year by the NAHB National Green Building Program.
For homes to be certified, builders must address a range of factors, including energy, resource and water efficiency; lot design and preparation; indoor environmental quality; and education for the home owner on the operation and maintenance of the green home.
The National Green Building Standard is the result of the efforts of 42 individuals, including builders, architects, regulators, code officials, product manufacturers and environmental experts who conducted four public hearings and read through more than 2,000 comments.
“The certification of the Village in Burns Harbor is another great step forward as NAHB continues to move green building practices into the mainstream,” said Robson.
“I congratulate Mr. Fleming, the Porter County Home Builders Association, the verifying firm of Energy Diagnostics and the home owners in Burns Harbor for leading the way,” he said.
For more information, e-mail Blake Smith at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8583.
 ‘National Green Building Standard’ Available at BuilderBooks.com
“The National Green Building Standard,” available through BuilderBooks.com, provides “green” practices that can be incorporated into multifamily and single-family new home construction, home remodeling and additions and site development.
The standard covers lot design, resource, energy and water efficiency; indoor environment quality; and owner education.
Currently the first and only ANSI-approved green building rating system, the National Green Building Standard is the benchmark for green homes.
To view or purchase this publication online, click here.
 The Future of Residential Construction Is Green
The Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation teaches builders, remodelers and other industry professionals techniques for incorporating green building principles into homes using cost-effective and affordable options.
Earning the CGP demonstrates to clients and peers your commitment to the best and latest in green building practices and techniques. More than 1,000 people have earned the CGPdesignation to date.
For more information, visit www.nahb.org/CGPinfo.
‘Building Greener Neighborhoods’ Available at BuilderBooks.com
“Building Greener Neighborhoods,” available through Digital Delivery at BuilderBooks.com, shows those involved in building new communities the advantages and rewards of saving, planting and transplanting more trees in their developments.
The examples are drawn from decades of experience of land developers, home builders and urban foresters.
To download this publication in a PDF format, click here, or call 800-223-2665.
 ‘Profit from Building Green’ Available at BuilderBooks.com
“Profit from Building Green — Award-Winning Tips to Build Energy Efficient Homes,” available through BuilderBooks.com, showcases what energy conscious award-winning builders are doing, provides innovative energy-efficient features and covers successful techniques for building this niche market.
To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665.
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