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.
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.
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
Applications are due June 30 for the 2011 EnergyValue Housing Awards, given each year by the NAHB Research Center, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and NAHB.
EVHA recognizes builders who successfully integrate energy efficiency into all aspects of home building, as exemplified by a specific project. In this year’s competition, remodeled homes will for the first time be eligible for EVHA recognition. » Read more: EnergyValue Housing Awards Deadline Fast Approaching
Texas builders and HBAs support move to more stringent 2009 energy code.
TITLE 34.PUBLIC FINANCE
Part 1. COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
Chapter 19. STATE ENERGY CONSERVATION OFFICE
Subchapter E. TEXAS BUILDING ENERGY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
34 TAC §19.53
The Comptroller of Public Accounts adopts new §19.53, concerning building energy efficiency performance standards, with changes to the proposed text as published in the March 26, 2010, issue of the Texas Register (35 TexReg 2514). The new section is created in compliance with Health and Safety Code, §388.003(b-1), which authorizes the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) to adopt equivalent or more stringent energy codes than those adopted in Health and Safety Code, §388.003(a) and (b). » Read more: Home Builders Support Update to Texas Building Performance Standards
Green Built Texas Co-Chairman Chris Miles of GreenCraft Builders, LLC has been nominated for the 2010 Hanley Award. The award recognizes vision and leadership in sustainable housing and is the industry’s premiere award for those who have made a deep and lasting contribution to the field.
“Just being considered among such an honorable field of industry leaders is an accomplishment in and of itself,” said Miles. “I am grateful that the radio show [House Talk Today] and the owners of my show homes have given me the opportunity to share my passion for high performance building with so many people.”
The award winner, which includes a $50,000 grant will be decided later this month and will be presented at the USGBC Hanley Award Dinner on Nov. 17, during the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Chicago.
By: Phil Crone
HBA of Greater Dallas Director of Government Affairs and Green Building Programs
What if the codes required your home to achieve a HERS Index of 50 or below? If you are not building to this level now, could you be in five or six years? You may not have a choice.
National Association of Home Builders
Nation’s Building News Online, May 31
This affordably priced green duplex is in the NAHB National Green Building Award-winning community of Rosewood Hills in Columbia, S.C.,
While official statistics may be lacking, many builders attending the NAHB National Green Building Conference in Raleigh, N.C., on May 16-18 said that they have been able to sell sustainably built homes considerably faster than the traditionally built new homes that have been languishing in today’s tough market.
Green builders, however, have little immunity from the tight financial conditions that have been plaguing the housing market and imposing difficulties for both home buyers and sellers. And the widespread problem of low appraisals — driven largely by a glut of foreclosed properties and a slow market — has been doubly frustrating for green builders because the vast majority of appraisers are unable to recognize the value that green features add to the home. » Read more: Green Homes Said to Sell Faster, But Appraisals Remain a Sticking Point
Matt Libby, USGBC Manager of Residential Alliances discusses the Green Home Guide with Phil Crone at the NAHB National Green Building Conference. Green Home Guide provides industry professionals and home owners with information on sustainable building practices.
Green Home Guide is developing local landing pages in some markets including Dallas to showcase information that has a more regional focus.
Green Built Texas is a partnership of residential building professionals who are committed to increasing the awareness and availability of green homes in Texas. The program is an initiative of the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas and is centered around climate-specific construction protocols for single-family, multifamily and remodeling projects.
Applications are due June 30 for the 2011 EnergyValue Housing Awards, given each year by the NAHB Research Center, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and NAHB.
