Jan 12 2010
In 2007, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) created the National Green Building Standard (ICC-700) - a 116-page document aimed at guiding all aspects of environmentally-friendly residential construction. In 2010, Excel Homes took that groundbreaking guide and simplified it with an online tool aptly named the Green Building Program.
As announced by Excel Homes CEO Steve Scharnhorst on the company's blog, Modular Musings (www.modularmusings.com), the Green Building Program is designed to save hours on the green planning and building process for builders and home buyers, while dispelling the myth that going green costs more than it's worth. Under the Green Building Program, home buyers can work with Excel Homes' builders to develop a plan using a simplified, online Green Building Scoring Tool to reach the green rating that works best with their needs, green goals and budget.
"With the Green Building Program, we wanted to take an incredibly detailed, evolving practice like green construction and simplify it, making it easier for builders to be experts in green building methods," said Scharnhorst. "That's the basis of the program. By conducting in-depth research to find the best in sustainable technologies, we were able to change the way the industry approaches green building and make the process simple, direct and efficient."
By participating in this program, home buyers enjoy the benefits of lower utility costs, increased home value and living a more sustainable lifestyle. While every Excel Homes model comes with standard "green-built" points, a minimum number of points are required in several categories under the NAHB National Green Building Standard to achieve a green rating of bronze, silver, gold or emerald.
The Excel Homes green building formula includes involvement from the company's green certification partner agency, which assists with design from conception to completion. To learn more about Excel's Green Building Program and the top 10 pointers for building green, please visit excelhomes.com/green.
Source: http://www.excelhomes.com/