Building in concert with the environment is not new to home builders. Early settlers who built their homes on uninhabited prairie strategically chose home sites to minimize wind exposure, maximize sun exposure or live near a water source. Today, a growing number of home builders are taking environmentally-friendly and cost-effective measures like these and combining them with modern technologies in the "green building" movement.
The home building industry coined the term "green building" in the late 1980s. Green Building refers to a wide variety of measures taken that can make a home or other building healthier, safer, more comfortable, more durable, energy efficient and environmentally responsible. Since 1990, more than 61,000 green homes have been built, and consumer demand for energy-efficient and cost-effective homes is rapidly increasing.
In response, Valley Home Builders Association (VHBA) created a Green Building Task Force to educate its members, the public and local officials about environmentally sustainable residential development, construction and remodeling.
There are numerous ways to incorporate green features into existing and new homes. Click here to download a basic introduction to Green Building.
Check out special "green links" in our Helpful Links section of this site.
In 2008, VHBA introduced a Green Member Identification Program. Members identified under this program have expressed an interest in helping customers incorporate green features into existing and new homes. In addition, Green Members completed a prescribed education course to obtain basic knowledge on what it means to be "green." A list of 2008 Green Members can be found here.
Download information sheets on Green Building topics here:
10 Green Projects For Under $100