The Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas’s Green Built Texas program has partnered with the producer of 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. In this section of the show, attendees will learn practical ways to live green and save green from hands-on, do-it-yourself seminars, interactive presentations from local industry experts, and dozens of product and service exhibitors.

If your company would like to be a part of the Going Green Showcase, please provide the required information below so we can supply you with a list of available booths as well as an exhibitor contract. The Dallas Home and Garden Market typically draws as many as 15,000 attendees and the Going Green Showcase will be the centerpiece of the show’s marketing efforts making your participation in the Showcase all the more valuable.

In order to guarentee entry into the Showcase, you must complete and return your Exhibitor Application to the HBA as soon as possible.

You can also download a PDF copy of the form below by clicking here.

Going Green Showcase Exhibitor Application

Additionally, the IGCC would require the minimum energy efficiency for residential occupancies to exceed the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) by at least 30 percent. One jurisdiction in Washington State has adopted the IGCC and the ICC is actively encouraging others to do the same.

In the spirit of a resolution that was passed by the HBA and Texas Association of Builders boards, I testified first in support of comments 1-10 and 1-11, which call for the removal of residential construction (except for high-rise buildings) from the IGCC. Despite touting the successful voluntary efforts by Texas builders, who build more ENERGY STAR homes than the next eight leading states combined, and the availability of other viable green rating systems in Dallas, Houston, and throughout the nation, both comments were summarily rejected.

I spoke next in support of comment 3-8, which enables a jurisdiction to recognize other state and local rating systems in addition to or instead of ICC-700. This public comment was submitted by the USGBC and supported by the EPA. Despite this coalition and new-found support from four members of the public comment committee, this comment was also rejected. However, the committee did mention that additional strategies on the residential section of the IGCC need to be explored further.

NAHB, represented in these two instances by Larry Brown, also argued in support of comments 1-10 and 1-11. Their comments centered on the fact that green building should remain voluntary and that the ICC-700 rating system was not designed to interact with a code overlay document such as the IGCC. NAHB did not weigh in specifically on comment 3-8.

After my testimony, I spoke briefly with Dominic Sims, the Chief Operating Officer of the ICC, who requested a written copy of it and wanted the contact information for other HBAs that operated state or local rating systems. My hope is that this information helped provide a clearer picture of the green building landscape and that the IGCC will encourage ingenuity and flexibility in residential construction.

The Program Director position will remain open until filled. First resume review will begin August 30th, 2010.

To apply: Please forward application materials electronically with “Program Director” in subject line, and include your resume, a cover letter and your salary expectations to achildress-kannan@usgbcnorthtexas.org. We will screen applicants and respond to those selected for interview. Please do not call or email the staff or Board of USGBC-NTX – we will contact you if you are shortlisted for an interview.

Masco Home Services has become the third Green Built Texas Title Partner, joining Dow Building Solutions and Demilec.

Masco has promulgated the Environments for Living (EFL) program since 2001. EFL provides a rigorous set of requirements for home builders who’ve made a commitment to go the extra mile. It’s a program that treats a home as a “system of systems” that work together, with limited guarantees on comfort and heating/cooling energy use.

“Getting EFL on board as a Title Partner is huge for us and them,” said Green Built Texas Chairman Adam Auensen of Tonti Properties. “We share a similar mindset on what a green building program should be providing to builders and consumers; I think that will lead to a very innovative relationship.”

More information about Masco and all other Green Built Texas Title Partners can be found by clicking the logos in the right margin of this site.

It may be some time before ENERGY STAR returns to the 40 percent market penetration it currently enjoys here in Texas. However, for those who reach this level, it will continue to be a mark of market separation for energy efficiency and quality construction.

Nevertheless, all single and multifamily builders should attend this seminar as ENERGY STAR, even in its new form, may remain a mandatory provision of local green building ordinances. For more background information on this issue, visit the EPA’s ENERGY STAR for New Homes website.

Instructors:

Steve Saunders, CEO, TexEnergy Solutions
Phil Crone, Director of Green Building Programs, HBA of Greater Dallas

Register for this event: http://www.dallasbuilders.com/news_events.php?news=430

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.

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.

The days some of us were called “greenies”, “spotted owl lovers”, “tree huggers” or just simply “wackos” are over!!! (Though some of you will call me that regardless). Today WE are cool (yeah!!! I am cool); we are on the cutting edge and leading the charge in this new age of construction. Today we look at buildings as a whole system and we design and build them with the right materials, specifications and methods. We want our buildings to last 100 years or more not just the length of the loan and in some cases just to get over the “one-year warranty”.

In a 2006 NAHB-McGraw-Hill Market report, DOE information and the US Energy Information Act stated:

1.In 1950 homes had 3.37 people per household or 297 sf. per person. Today we have 2.4 people per household or almost 1,000 sf. per person.

2.The residential sector consumes 40% of all energy produced in the nation and 74% of the water. It also contributes 21% of the U.S. carbon dioxide emissions and the indoor air quality has 4 to 5 times the levels of pollutants to the outside.

3.In 2005, green building was 2% of existing buildings. By 2010 it is expected to be 10%. It translates to $38 billion in NEW residential construction.

4.60% of builders claim that homebuyers are willing to pay 11-25% more for green building. Most builders report a 2-5% increase in costs.

5.Builders consider the most important features to be: 99% Energy Efficiency, 96% Green Site, 93% Indoor Air Quality, 93% Materials and Resources, 92% Water Conservation.

6.Builders consider the most important options to be: 92% High-Efficiency HVAC System, 90% Low-E Windows, 88% Energy Efficient Appliances.

So, What is Green Building? Green Building is the practice of designing and building structures that increase our resources – Materials, Water and Energy – at the same time we reduce the negative effects on human health and the environment. Today, we look at how we site, design, construct, operate and maintain our buildings by developing better design techniques and increasing efficiencies, air quality, owner education and sustainability.

There are as many Green Building programs in the United States as you care to count, but in the last three to four years the NAHB, the USGBC and Energy Star have developed national guidelines and standards that it appears most municipalities and local Green Building programs are embracing. The International Code Council, or ICC, is currently developing the International Green Construction Code, or IGCC. The State of Texas through the State Energy Conservation Office, or SECO, is currently viewing the implementation of the 2009 IECC. If you live in an area where the Energy Code is 2003 IECC, you are for a rude awakening. The 2009 IECC is still 15% more energy efficient than the 2006 IECC, which bigger municipalities in Texas follow.

Here in Texas, the Green Built Texas program is a partnership of the home building industry committed to the promotion, education, awareness and certification of energy efficient, high performing and lower environmental impact homes in Texas.

Green Building Programs are generally divided into six main categories:

1.Lot Design, Preparation and Development:

- Form a sustainable team

- Site selection, development and design.

- In-fill or new development, infrastructure and community resources.

2.Resource Efficient:

- Quantity of materials, durability and reduced maintenance.

- Reuse, use recycle-content materials and recycle materials.

- Renewable and resource-efficient materials.

3.Energy Efficient:

- Integrated energy efficient design.

- Prescriptive or performance path.

4.Water Efficiency:

- Indoor and outdoor water use

5.Environmental Quality:

- Minimize pollutants.

- Manage pollutants generated in the home.

- Moisture management.

- Global impact.

6.Operation, Maintenance and Homeowner Education:

- Homeowner manual.

- Homeowner education

- Solid waste

Always remember, 90% of green building is in the design. Make sure you start with a team of real experts. Contact a green consultant, architect or designer, a HERS rater, a good HVAC contractor, a mechanical engineer and an open mind. We do not build homes the same way than we did 50 years a go, not even 5 years a go. Taking a finished set of plans for a consultant to “green it” maybe too late, and you’ll end up spending more money in the long run.

There are many advantages to green building: Greater efficiency, improved durability and air quality, reduce maintenance and callbacks, higher potential resale value and greater customer satisfaction means more referrals… in essence, it is a bad idea to kill your clients.

For more information on the Green Built Texas, Energy Star and LEED for Homes programs contact Phil Crone at the Greater Dallas Home Builders Association, or www.greenbuiltnorthtexas.com, or you can contact Armando Cobo at 972-781-9248, or

www.CoboDesigner.com.

About the Author: Armando Cobo, owner of Armando Cobo, Designer, is a Residential Designer and Green Consultant of Green Building homes. Armando is a member of the Greater Dallas Home Builders Association and the Green Built TX program; and is a Certified Green Building Instructor for the National Home Builders Association as well.

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.

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.

“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.”

MHI homes built to “Eco Smart” standards fit a broad spectrum of aesthetic tastes and retain their curb appeal while being more energy efficient, healthier and environmentally responsible. By adhering to the “Eco Smart” standards, MHI Homeowners benefit from long-term savings, protection from rising energy costs, increased resale value and improved home comfort.

By offering “Eco Smart” homes in all three lines, MHI offers buyers in all price ranges the opportunity to own an ecologically friendly home. From the award-winning designs of Plantation Homes, beginning at the $140’s to the luxurious, customized Coventry Homes from the $230’s, and the well appointed townhomes by Carmel Builders from the $200s, buyers don’t have to sacrifice choice to own a green home.

The Green Built Texas program is a partnership of North Texas homebuilders, industry supporters, and sponsors committed to resource-efficient home construction. The program consists of 38 construction guidelines that address strategies for six categories of construction including jobsite management, water efficiency, indoor air quality, material usage, and homeowner education. For a full list of all components featured in an Eco Smart Home, visit plantationhomes.com coventryhomes.com or carmelbuilderstx.com.

MHI is ranked among the top 30 homebuilders in the nation, according to Builder Magazine and since 1988 has helped more than 35,000 families realize their dream of owning a new home. Building in the five largest markets in Texas, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, MHI offers added flexibility for homebuyers and developers alike with distinct brands, including Coventry Homes, Plantation Homes, Pioneer Homes and Carmel Builders.