2004 Media Releases & Alerts
NAHB Research Center Highlights Green Products and Practices During Home
Remodeling Month 2004
May 27, 2004, Upper Marlboro, Md. - Green building has become
vastly more popular in the home building industry over the past 10 years.
According to Ray Tonjes, chair of the National Association of Home Builder's
Green Building Subcommittee, "An increasing number of home buyers are demanding
that environmental issues become a top priority in new construction and
remodeling efforts." The benefits of green building range from energy savings
to indoor air quality to environmental stewardship. But some remodelers may
find it difficult to implement green building principles across the board in
their operations and throughout their businesses.
What's a remodeler to do? Given that the payback period of some green products
may be longer than the amount of time that some consumers will remain in their
homes, focusing on other, non-monetary perceived benefits is an effective way
to describe the usefulness of green products and practices.
For example, low-VOC paints may cost more than their latex or oil-based
alternatives. But, if a consumer is concerned about indoor air quality or has
certain health problems, what is the trade-off? Tankless water heaters cost
more than conventional water heaters. But, how much is the space savings worth
to a consumer in a smaller home, or for someone who would like additional
storage space? If the tankless heater can be installed outside, a plumber
doesn't need access to the home to flush and clean the system, increasing some
homeowners' sense of security. And the energy saved by the elimination of
standby losses can be used elsewhere, reducing energy costs.
Green products and practices are not all about payback-and remodelers can
provide consumers with a more complete understanding of their advantages. For
more information on green building or to see if there is a green building
program in your area, visit www.toolbase.org.
5/04
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