Green Building for the Greenhorn

"Greenhorn!" I remember the first time I was hailed by that moniker. I was fifteen-years-old trying to assemble concrete forms using a twenty-eight ounce hammer and looking every bit the rookie that I was. I left a trail of bent nails wherever I went. The term greenhorn is not one anyone cares to have attached to themselves. But let's face it, some of us in the residential realm have turned a deaf ear to green initatives while our collegues were boning up. As an example I was speaking to a fellow purchasing professional yesterday who had never heard of LEED certification. Now suddenly we are expected to bring something substantial to the table. Well fear not. Here's a crash course.

First, there is no official government requirement for residential building yet when it comes to a green building program. Different municipalities have taken some steps such as requiring a specific percentage of impervious area on a lot not be exceeded. That leaves the private sector to sort things out. For homebuilders there are two organizations facing off.

The US Green Building Council which has established standards for residential, commercial and commercial remodelling construction. You can apply for LEED membership and become a LEED certified paractioner through this organization. They offer a mountain of information on green building across the spectrum.

Also in the game is the mighty National Association of Home Builders. Solely focused on residential dwellings, they are seeking to develop a National Green Building Program. Disenchanted with the approach of LEEDs, NAHB is seeking to create more cost effective steps toward introducing green initiatives. Make no mistake, they will have the same serious certifications that LEEDs does. In fact, they are currently seeking ANSI approval for their methods.

Beyond that is the actual products. I read an article today that led me to the Green Log Awards. This site is having a competition for the most innovative green products. As a result, you get to peruse numerous green products available now all in one place. To take a look go here. While this isn't a complete list of all products available, you may just find a few that are available in your area at little or no extra cost.

Finally, there is Energy Star. You know that little blue and white star symbol that came on your computer monitor. That symbol represents an EPA program aimed at energy consumption reduction. Considering that if you are astute enough to be reading this, you are probably working for a quality conscious firm. As a quality conscious firm, you are probably already taking many steps necessary to meet Energy Star compliance. What this program allows you to do is advertise your homes as Energy Star homes. Your buyer may qualify for a higher debt to income ratio as an added bonus. Who doesn't need that kind of edge today?

So there is your three minute introduction to Green building. With a little homework, you can quickly go from "greenhorn" to "green machine."

Going From Red to Green

Going From Red to Green
Let's face it. Everyone in the building industry is waiting for the customer to stop waiting and make the decision to go for it and buy a new home. However, it has been ingrained in us since grade school when mom made us wear the Christmas sweater to class and everyone had a laugh. No one wants to be the butt of riducule. So rather than homeowners stepping out and taking advantage of deals that will likely never recur in their lifetime, they are waiting for a better one, scared of the ridicule they would endure if the value of their new home dropped shortly after closing. Can you blame them? So what can a purchasing manager do to help in this situation. Go from red to green!While most builders are drowning in red ink, you can have a positive impact on the one facet of business most in need, driving qualified traffic to the sales floor. Face it, you've done your job so far. You've asked the vendors for price concessions. You've maybe simplified product lines as a trade off to reduce base prices. You may have even reduced your vedor count to try and cope. But there is one thing you may not have tried, go green. While we have been busy making deals and starting homes the US Green Building Council has been working tirelessly to make green building a reality. The commercial sector has already seen this wave coming. In the last 12 months alone, consumer sentiment about buying products whose brand supports a cause they believe in has increased over 8% to 72.4%. That's a huge section of the market to consider. With gas hovering around $3/gallon it's no wonder. So by establishing green initiatives within your processes and product lines you give your marketing people the ammunition they are looking desperately for, a way to separate your company from the pack. While the rest of the builders sit back and wait for legislation to dictate better practices, you can take this opportunity to turn your product line into one ready for the future. And after all isn't that about all that separates your homes from the used ones.