By Perry Bacon Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 22, 2010; 2:07 PM
Conceding they can’t find enough votes for the measure, Senate Democrats will announce Thursday they are abandoning for now efforts to put together a comprehensive energy bill that would seek to limit greenhouse gas emissions, ending the immediate prospect for a key legislative priority of President Obama and congressional Democrats.
See full text of this article on the Washington Post’s website.
Green Building in TX? Really?
By Armando Cobo CGP, CAPS, CGA
Yes!!! Green, green and more green… and if you think this “Green Thing” is going away, think again. We find “Green” every day in the news, in the products we buy, in conversations at IBS and the NAHB Green Building Conference, also those “other” guys at the USGBC or the United States Green Building Council and their LEED for Homes program, and even the Government with its Energy Star Program and President Obama, who has made Green Building a pivotal part of the Economical Recovery of our nation. » Read more: Member Blog: Like Armando Cobo, Green Building has Found a Welcome Home in Texas
In an attempt to create a legislative benchmark for green building, the International Code Council has been heavily focused on establishing the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) for that purpose. While the lion’s share of the document is geared towards commercial construction, the ICC-700 program (National Green Building Standard) promulgated by the National Association of Home Builders is incorporated by reference for residential buildings.
The ICC-700 program is just one of many rating systems available in the market. Unfortuneatly though, it is the only rating system currently recognized in early drafts of the IGCC. It is our hope that once work on the IGCC is completed in early 2012, it will either encourage adopting jurisdictions to consider multiple rating systems that are available at the state and local level (as many already have) or will simply maintain focus on commercial construction; again realizing that multiple solutions already exist in the residential field.
The ever-evolving field of green building continues to be defined by innovative theories coupled with unique demands among both consumers and policy makers. We sincerely hope that further progress will not be curtailed by short-sighted regulatory attempts to fashion a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
More information on the IGCC can be found on the ICC’s web page. Our public comment is #1-31 and the Texas Association of Builders is comment #1-10 on this document.
Green Built Texas is partnering with the Dallas Home and Garden Market to add a Going Green Showcase to the popular consumer event that will be held September 11 and 12. A section of the show will be dedicated to vendors dedicated to helping consumers find green building and living solutions.
The program will also be coordinating a stage featuring seminars from local industry experts discussing relevent green and energy efficiency topics. More information on how vendors can participate in this opportunity is forthcoming.
The next installment of the popular Green Vine Lecture Series will be held at the HBA offices on Wednesday, August 4. The event will focus on the significant and newly-finalized changes to the ENERGY STAR program as well as what single and multifamily builders will have to do in order to earn the popular EPA designation starting next year. The incorporation of the upgraded ENERGY STAR program into pending revisions to the Green Built Texas protocols will also be discussed at this time. » Read more: Green Vine Lecture August 4: What’s Next for ENERGY STAR
Dallas, TX (June 22, 2010)… McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc. (MHI) has registered its 1,000th Green Built Texas home for its three brands Plantation, Coventry Homes, and Carmel Builders. MHI was the first volume builder to adopt the Green Built North Texas Program and named its green building program “Eco Smart”.
“We are very proud of this significant milestone, says Rudy Pospisil, MHI Division President. “We embarked on our Eco Smart program as an early adopter to the Green Built Texas program and have seen the program’s emergence in the industry as a building standard,” added Pospisil.
Phil Crone, Director of Government Affairs and Green Building Programs, for Green Built Texas, added, “I commend MHI for your leadership and your longstanding commitment to the program.” » Read more: Volume Builder MHI Registers 1000th Green Built Texas Home
Green Built Texas members braved the heat last weekend to share their expertise with patrons of the Wild About Flower Mound Festival. The event featured a green section with educational seminars and children’s activities.
Below are three video interviews conducted with Armando Cobo (who was there at our booth all day long), Bill Peck and Carolee Kamesch who represented the program and their companies. Click the links below to find out more about how they support Green Built Texas.
Thanks also to Scott Roberts (Creative Architects), T.W. Bailey (Bailey Family Builders), Dan Fette (Dan Fette Builders), and Kevin McLain (Dow) who volunteered part of their weekend to staff our booth.
» Read more: Green Built Texas Members Share Expertise at Flower Mound Festival
The EPA has agreed to extend the deadline for its new lead paint certification. Contractors must now enroll in training by Sept. 30, 2010 and complete training by Dec. 31, 2010. This decision was prompted by a lagging supply of certified trainers to educate contractors across the nation and the detrimental effect it would have on rebuilding efforts in flood-ravaged Tennessee.
Today I was given the opportunity to give the HBA’s Remodelers Council an update on the progress of the Green Built Texas Home Energy Upgrade Program. This program will utilize resources created by the Texas Home Energy Rating Organization and will enable remodelers to communicate the value of energy efficient upgrades to their clients. Click the link below for a copy of the presentation.
by RESBlog on June 15, 2010
The $2,000 federal tax credit for builders that build energy efficient homes is providing an important boost to mainstreaming high energy performance homes in the market place. In 2009, 37,506 homes were certified as complying with the federal tax credit. This represented 10% of all new homes sold in the U.S. last year. Unfortunately, the credit expired on December 31, 2009. RESNET has joined a coalition of housing industry and energy efficiency advocacy groups (including the National Association of Home Builders and the Natural Resources Defense Council) advocating the extension of the credit. » Read more: House Passes Extension of Federal Energy Efficient Homes Credit
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