Montana Builder Associations Launch Statewide Green Building Program

Last week, the Montana and Missoula Building Industry Associations unveiled the Montana Green Building Program—a voluntary, statewide initiative based on the National Association of Home Builders' Model Green Home Building Guidelines, developed in partnership with GBI.

Available to 550 builder members of the two associations, the program is an expansion of the Missoula Green Building Initiative, which was introduced in 2006 to promote practical, locally relevant approaches to green construction.

"Our initial efforts focused on building four pilot homes to the guidelines and educating builders as well as the broader home buying public," said John Freer, a member of the Missoula association board and chair of the new state program. "The reception we got was terrific. Montana, like most states, is really starting to embrace green building as a way to deal with climate change and other issues, and we realized that it made sense to partner with the Montana BIA and take the program statewide."

Freer's construction company, Riverworks, Inc., built one of the pilot homes, which is about to receive the program's first gold level certification. Located in the Rattlesnake area, the home's sustainability features include (among others) ICF (insulated concrete form) foundation wall construction, a geothermal heat pump, an in-floor radiant heat system, SIP (structural insulated panel) construction for the main exterior walls, upgraded insulation levels (R 50 in the ceiling), reclaimed timbers, solar panels, energy efficient lighting and appliances, and locally harvested wood for the trim materials.

A second pilot home, constructed by Edgell Building, also features ICF foundation, as well as upgraded insulation levels, a 90 percent efficient gas forced air furnace and a 93 percent electric hot water heater. Also part of the ENERGY STAR program, the home is designed to lower energy bills while keeping its occupants warm in winter and cool in summer, and is seeking a silver level certification.

For more information please visit:

The Missoula Green Building Initiative
The Montana Building Industry Association