The WNC Green Building Council is now the administrator of the Green Built North Carolina Certification Program, which replaces the N.C. HealthyBuilt Homes Certification Program statewide.
From 2006-2012, the WNCGBC certified 85% of the HealthyBuilt Homes in the state (over 600 homes in Western N.C.). As a result of that effort, the WNC Green Building Council will continue the work certifying homes, but under a new certification name – “Green Built North Carolina.” The Green Built North Carolina Certification Program will ensure that North Carolina continues to be a leader in green residential building.
“We are thrilled about the opportunity to grow and improve the program. Green Built NC will be more streamlined with faster certification, better responsiveness and improved marketing,” according to Maggie Leslie, Program Director for WNCGBC.
“We are pleased that the WNCGBC has taken this big step to administer a fantastic housing program that provides value to home builders and home buyers. Homes last for decades, and building them right reaps benefits not only for the first owner, but for the second, third, fourth and beyond,” said Ward Lenz, Director of the N.C. energy Office. “It is far more difficult and expensive to try to make existing homes more efficient, so we celebrate the WNCGBC efforts to help builders achieve these high standards at the time of construction.”
Certified homes have benefits for builders, homeowners and the environment. Research shows that Green Built N.C. Certified Homes sell faster, hold their value longer, save energy, lower utility bills and protect the environment. Certified homes are more comfortable, healthy and affordable.
The program offers a certificate for homes that meet green building guidelines, as well as providing technical and marketing assistance, design reviews, workshops, and field consulting services to enable builders to increase their green building expertise and boost company profitability. Multiple levels of certification are available (Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum) ensuring that the program is available to all budgets and experience levels.
The Green Built NC program checklist will include a few improvements, making an easy transition for participants. Instead of having to be Energy Star certified, the new program will recognize homes that are a minimum of 15% more energy efficient than code.
All homes that were NC HealthyBuilt Homes certified will automatically be Green Built NC certified. This will help with continuity, as homebuyers looking for energy efficiency and sustainability search for HBH homes on MLS.
Come visit WNCGBC at the Southern Green Living Expo Sept 14-16 at the US Cellular Center to learn more!
For more information and a copy of the new checklist go to our website at: www.wncgbc.org or contact: Maggie Leslie 828-254-1995, maggie@wncgbc.org
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