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Free House Plans Add Green Building Standard Checklist
The Boston-based company FreeGreen is now offering house plans that include a checklist showing how their finished projects can conform to the requirements of the National Green Building Standard.
The company, which offers free downloadable construction documents or blueprints for a variety of plans, says it hopes that including the checklist will spur more builders, remodelers and consumers to go green by giving them a head start on the scoring process and a guide to products that can help lead to green certification.
FreeGreen’s checklist fully conforms to the National Green Building Standard, providing the builder with a line-item check of each credit, its relevant points and a National Green Building Standard page reference where credit details and definitions can be found.
This checklist can be printed out in the conventional 24-inch by 36-inch size used at the job site.
Additional FreeGreen downloads for each plan include a local home energy model to help estimate operating and building costs. “Builders can use that in their decision-making with the clients,” said Dave Wax, CEO of Free Green.
While the plans are free, the site’s advertisers pay FreeGreen for links and for including their green products on the checklist and in the house plans — although the company pointed out that there is no obligation to use any particular product. “The sponsorships, rather than the sale of the house plans, are one of the main revenue sources for our company,” Wax said.
“We saw this as a way for both consumers and builders to gain access to green design concepts, energy modeling and green building certification tools without paying the significant premium that typically comes along with the design of green homes,” he said.
In addition, FreeGreen will launch a Premium Membership service this month giving builders and architects access to FreeGreen’s library of climate-specific construction details, CAD-formatted plans, exclusive product discounts and lead generation tools.
Tying the checklist to the National Green Building Standard — builders can also choose to download a version tied to the LEED-H rating system — gives the house plans green credibility, he said, and helps encourage builders to use an accepted third-party certification service by taking care of the initial steps in advance.
“You don’t have to have 10,000 decisions. You at least have some suggestions that fit into the point systems and fit into our model,” he said.
Since FreeGreen was launched one year ago, 24,500 house plans have been downloaded by 9,500 registered site users, 1,000 of whom have identified themselves as industry professionals — usually home builders or architects. “We believe we have 20 to 50 starts to date via users telling us. Forty percent of the users identify themselves as planning to build a home, 60% are learning about green design,” Wax said.
 ‘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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