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Introducing Minnesota GreenStar - Certified Green Homes and Remodeling
Green building techniques applied in home construction increased by 20 percent in 2005 according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). That number was expected to have grown by another 30 percent in 2006, and may reach up to 10 percent of all residential construction activity by 2010.
While Minnesota has been a step ahead of most states when it comes to building energy-efficient homes, energy conservation is just one of many aspects to building green. That's why the Builders Association of the Twin Cities has taken a leadership position to bring a more comprehensive green approach to home building and remodeling for home owners in the Twin Cities region.
This fall, we're very pleased to introduce to you an exciting new voluntary green building standard being readied for launch: Minnesota GreenStar - Certified Green Homes and Remodeling. This new certification program is the product of countless hours contributed by our region's finest homebuilders and remodelers working alongside key environmental and building science experts to create a comprehensive green building approach for homes and remodeling projects across the region. The initiative is rooted in a partnership of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry-Minnesota, and a highly-regarded, nationally-recognized leader in the green building movement, the Twin Cities-based Green Institute, which will administer the program.
“We reviewed many green programs and organizations across the nation, and were very pleased to find one of the top performers right here in our own backyard,” said Michael Noonan, 2007 BATC president and division president of Toll Brothers. “The Green Institute has an exceptional reputation within the environmental community, and brings to us the credible, independent management that will prove crucial to the success of Minnesota GreenStar.”
Minnesota GreenStar comprises a regionally-appropriate green building standard that embraces our unique climate concerns, building codes, and energy, materials and natural resources. Fundamental to the program is an objective, third-party verification system that assures the new home or remodeling project performs as promised. The program is also supported by a mandatory education program for builders and remodelers. With the robust standard as the vehicle, it is our aim to bring home buyers and homeowners a verified standard that will allow them the opportunity to choose more efficient, healthy, and environmentally-sensitive design and construction practices for their new or remodeled home.
Minnesota GreenStar leverages two green building guidelines, new home construction and home remodeling, both designed with the builder/remodeler and homeowner in mind. The guidelines will provide users with prerequisite and prescriptive strategies, as well as a broad, well-rounded array of alternatives to achieve Minnesota GreenStar certification.
'This is an outstanding collaborative opportunity for several organizations to leverage their respective strengths in the creation of a first-rate voluntary green building program,” says Corey Brinkema, executive director of the Green Institute. “We're focused on creating value by developing a robust green homebuilding standard that is accessible to broadest range of builders and their customers.”
'We are at a point where consumers and builders are really interested in creating greener homes, commented 2007 BATC Builder Vice President K.C. Chermak, President of Pillar Home Partners, Inc. “We have learned from some of the programs already out there, enlisted the aid of top building scientists and environmental organizations, and tailored our program to fit our customers' needs here in Minnesota.”
Currently both the new home and remodeling standards are in the pilot phase. Look for certified Minnesota GreenStar homes coming to the Parade of HomesSM soon. And, please visit our website www.mngreenstar.org for updates and more information about this exciting new standard.
Look for the first Minnesota GreenStar certified green homes in our 2008 Parade of Homes Spring PreviewSM. In the mean time, if you'd like to see a green home this fall, check out Parade HomeSM #838 by Croix Custom Homes, Inc. This home in Hudson, Wisconsin is certified under Wisconsin's Green Built Home program.
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