Top Five Bogus Reasons Not to Build Green

Built Green Colorado has been around now for more than four years, and has grown from a local program to a statewide green building program that has received international attention. More than 100 builders around Colorado have signed on to the program, including large volume builders and builders of high-end custom homes. None have found the requirements of the program daunting, and those who want to highlight more green building features in their homes have had no problem scoring more than 50 points on the Built Green Checklist (the highest score of 101 points was reached by Tierra Concrete Homes in Pueblo). Still, there are those who, for a variety of reasons, argue against participating in this building trend. Maybe some of their reasons are found here.

"IT COSTS TOO MUCH TO BUILD GREEN"

Let's get this one out of the way first. Green building can apply to the most basic home. Green homes range from affordable urban infill homes to middle-class suburban homes to million-dollar-plus custom homes. There are a couple of issues related to cost. Clearly, if one takes a standard home and adds "green stuff" to it, there will be added cost. In most cases, even this doesn't have to be a deal-breaker. But if one is thinking "green" prior to design and construction there are numerous opportunities to shift costs, ending up with a higher quality home for the same cost. One program that has several participants in Colorado, Building America, helps builders save costs while producing a higher quality home.

Another cost issue is added value. Many of the green building features make life easier, or are healthier for the home's occupants. Several popular green building features, particularly energy and water efficiency features, actually pay back the investment over time. How many hot tubs do that? A study by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) and the EPA reported that for every one-dollar decrease in a home's annual utility bill due to energy efficiency, the market value of that home increases twenty dollars. Of all the available new home options, which ones actually pay dividends?

And as if this weren't enough, there are mortgage products available (and have been for more than a decade) that allow added energy efficiency features without affecting the ability of a buyer to qualify for the home. Fannie Mae unveiled their pilot "Green Mortgage" product last October, and several lenders are now offering even better mortgage incentives for Built Green Homes. The best way to take advantage of these products is to have a home energy rating done by E-Star Colorado. E-Star issues a certificate that details the energy costs and savings, and has an ongoing relationship with lenders around the state.

"I'M BUILDING WHAT THE MARKET WANTS"

This is one of my favorites. What it tells me is that people want to live in homogenous "communities" of huge houses on small lots that require getting in the car to go virtually anywhere; houses that cost two to three times what they should cost just to maintain comfort, and that are now requiring air conditioners to make up for poor design and unfortunate orientation of the windows; and houses whose indoor air quality can be much worse than the air outside. I am not aware of one truly green community, complete with energy-efficient, water-conserving clustered homes, narrow streets, pedestrian-friendly routes to nearby grocers and retail stores, that had any trouble selling homes. Part of the industry's responsibility in green building and development is to make these choices available. And that's exactly what is happening through Built Green. A working group of planners, builders, green building experts, developers and government representatives are crafting a Built Green Communities Checklist that will address many of the "green community" issues beyond just the home.

"IT'S TOO MUCH TROUBLE"

I suppose this one is relative. It depends on the amount of time spent versus the value to the builder. But most of the Built Green members will agree that making green choices doesn't have to create a lot of brain damage. And as buyers respond to the visible efforts to build green, any additional effort should be rewarded. Built Green Colorado offers educational seminars, training and technical resources to its members. Beyond the direct services of Built Green, anyone with a computer and Internet access is seconds from a world of green building resources.

"NOBODY REALLY CARES ABOUT GREEN HOMES"

Really? I wonder which "nobody" we're talking about here. The surveys and marketing studies have consistently shown a high level of interest in the public regarding environmental quality, energy efficiency, water efficiency and indoor air quality. Mainstream publications are regularly carrying stories and news items on a variety of green building issues, and one mainstream magazine, Natural Home based in Loveland, CO, is on newsstands all over the country. A clear majority of Americans consider themselves "environmentalists," and while energy efficiency or Built Green may not be the top reason for purchasing a home, both can be deciding features.

"I'M TAKING A 'WAIT AND SEE' APPROACH"

More than 6,000 homes have been registered under the Built Green program. National builders and building suppliers are supporting the program in a big way. Waiting to see if green building is worth doing means waiting to get on the "learning curve." Green building is already gaining ground in the industry, and if past NAHB President Charlie Ruma was correct in his assessment, builders who aren't building green in ten years will be out of business. In the meantime, there are promotional benefits to be gained now. Those builders who consider themselves "green" without the association with Built Green Colorado are missing out on an ongoing promotional campaign that will send potential buyers through the Built Green homes first.

BUILT GREEN COLORADO TIES IT ALL TOGETHER

Colorado builders have a clear advantage over most areas in the US with a statewide program that promotes green building benefits to new-home buyers. Built Green Colorado is an industry initiative that is working to provide practical, cost-effective solutions to environmental challenges. It's mission is to "encourage, through a combination of marketing, education and technology transfer, the voluntary integration of building products and practices that demonstrate energy, water and natural resource efficiency; sound economics; and healthy human environments." Check out the Built Green Colorado website at www.builtgreen.org. Built Green Colorado can help builders, Realtors and building suppliers get the tools they need to integrate green building with their business. Use the Built Green logo as a sign of your commitment to a healthier community and a better world.

Doug Seiter contributes to this publication on environmental building and energy efficiency issues, and is former State Coordinator for Built Green Colorado. He can be reached by e-mail at seiter@earthlink.net.

2008 Built Green Colorado

Home Builders Association of Metro Denver, 9033 E. Easter Place, Suite 200, Centennial, CO 80112
(303) 778-1400 fax: (303) 733-9440  info@builtgreen.org

Last Updated: 04/10/2004