The Construction Source America

6 | National Association of Home Builders Manager for Green Building Kevin Morrow says there have been more than 24,000 hous- ing projects which have achieved certifica- tion since the standard was introduced, yet more than 55,000 projects “are in the pro- cess” of being certified. Morrow says based on feedback the NAHB has gleaned frommember surveys, it anticipated that by 2016, more than a third of new housing construction will potential- ly conform to the NAHB’s green standard. Morrow says builders, as well as homeown- ers, are increasingly seeking means to better understand the benefits of green building, which makes sense because sustainability has come to mean much more than it did in years past when it was viewed as simply be- ing environmentally friendly. Today, Morrow says sustainability speaks not only to eco-sensitivity, but also the way a house performs. “Green, in terms of the lower environmental impact, isn’t al- ways the goal... the goal is performance,” says Morrow. For homeowners, improved performance has proven to provide greater durability, greater quality and greater eco- nomic benefits born from lower utility costs achieved from the conservation of energy and water. “There’s real premium associated with a green home versus a conventional