News

NORTHEAST OHIO HOME BUILDERS GROW AS LAUNCH FOR NEW GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM HITS THE AREA
Green Building Initiative to Provide Education and Resources for Builders and Consumers

CLEVELAND, OH (July 24, 2006) — Today the Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland and North Coast Building Industry Association unveiled a new voluntary residential green building program called the Northeast Ohio Green Building Initiative. The program, which is based on the National Association of Home Builder's (NAHB) Model Green Home Building Guidelines, is designed to offer local builders information on products and building practices to help build homes to meet their buyers' diverse needs.

"This innovative program is the first of its kind in the Northeast Ohio area," said Nate Coffman, Executive Director of the HBA of Greater Cleveland.

Rocco Fana, Jr., Executive Officer of the North Coast BIA added, "We are excited about the opportunity to provide our members with the necessary tools to build and market green homes to their consumers."

BENEFITS OF GREEN BUILDING
Owners of green homes in Northeast Ohio can reap various benefits, including utility savings, improved indoor air quality and less overall maintenance. By building green, homeowners will also benefit the entire community. The voluntary guidelines can be tailored to the needs of interested home buyers during the building process. Green building practices examine the potential to save energy and reduce waste, both during and after construction.

THE GUIDELINES
Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach to green building, the voluntary Northeast Ohio Green Building Initiative guidelines will provide green building tools including:

Minimize Solar Heat Gain

Position the structure so the longest walls and most of the windows face north and south
Position infrequently used rooms, such as storage spaces and service areas, on the west side to act as buffers from the sun

Maximize Natural Light and Ventilation

Ensure that most rooms have windows on two walls
Position windows for cross ventilation

Create a Cool Shell

Use light colored surfaces for walls and roofing
Choose metal, concrete or wood roofing, which absorb less heat than asphalt shingles

Ensure Efficient Heating and Cooling

Install a programmable thermostat
Install ceiling fans in major rooms

Use Efficient Appliances and Lights

Use Energy Star® rated appliances
Install task lighting to reduce the need to light whole rooms

Choose "Green" Materials

Use renewable and sustainable lumber for framing, doors and flooring
Use materials with recycled content (i.e. fly ash, slag, carpet, insulation, siding, roofing, flooring, countertops, outdoor decking)
Use non-chemical, bio-based cleaning products

The NAHB model green building guidelines were developed by a stakeholder group of nearly 60 builders, environmentalists, government agencies and product manufacturers. A committee of dedicated builders and remodelers reviewed and modified the voluntary guidelines in an effort to provide Northeast Ohio builders with a tool kit for practical green building approaches applicable to the surrounding geographical and climatic region.

The Northeast Ohio Green Building Initiative will provide technical and marketing expertise to help local builders utilize the voluntary national guidelines and support the construction of green homes built across Northeast Ohio. The organization is also working with representatives from both associations to implement a third-party verification process to ensure homes constructed as part of the program adhere to the guidelines outlined in the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines.

For more information on the new Northeast Ohio Green Building Initiative or the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines, contact Mark Rasmussen at 312-988-2301, Nate Coffman at the Greater Cleveland HBA 216-447-8700 or Rocco Fana, Jr. at the North Coast BIA 440-934-1090.

The Greater Cleveland HBA and North Coast BIA are not-for profit trade associations representing over 1,300 members involved in home building, remodeling, multifamily construction, property management, subcontracting, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commercial construction.