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Minnesota GreenStar, Certified Green Homes and Remodeling Open for Business
3/27/2008
With 60 pilot projects now complete and a new Executive Director on board, Minnesota GreenStar: Certified Green Homes and Remodeling is open for business. Homeowners and home buyers in Minnesota can now achieve one of three levels of Green certification for their remodeling project or new home.
The new, non-profit MN?GreenStar began as a collaboration between the Builders Association of the Twin Cities, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry-Minnesota and the environmental nonprofit Green Institute, working with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and other partners in the environmental and regulatory community. Now, with Dan Johnston as its Executive Director, MN?GreenStar is poised to provide Minnesota homeowners a balanced approach to Green building. It was designed as a regionally-specific, voluntary certification program that allows homeowners to choose the best level of Green to suit their personal needs, convictions and budgets.
In all three levels, homeowners can choose between a variety of options within five distinct areas to accrue points. A baseline level of points within each of the five categories (energy efficiency, resource efficiency/durability, indoor environmental quality, water conservation, and site/community) are added up to reach each certification level. Each level provides increased achievement in performance, resource efficiency, and occupation health, with the top level reaching the standards of such national programs as LEED for Homes, while leading the way in testing, monitoring and considerations for occupation health.
“I was thrilled to be asked to head up Minnesota GreenStar as I’m passionate about both building and Green,” said Dan?Johnston, Executive Director of MN?GreenStar. “I’m able to work at something I?love while reaching out to an incredible range of people.
“One of the best aspects of MN?GreenStar is its broad appeal. It has been designed to meet the needs and desires of avid environmentalists as well as those who want to do their part yet can’t or don’t want to spend more dollars to do it. I’m convinced that as more and more people are exposed to the benefits of Green, the more they will want to do, which is to the betterment of all of us.”
MN GreenStar provides a mandatory education program for builders and remodelers that outlines certification requirements and proven Green building techniques. The Green building standards take into consideration Minnesota's unique climate concerns, building codes and material, energy and natural resources. Third party raters, many of whom are supported by our local utilities to subsidize the cost of testing, will serve to verify that projects meet the Green criteria.
About Minnesota GreenStar - Certified Green Homes and Remodeling
Minnesota GreenStar - Certified Green Homes and Remodeling comprises a regionally appropriate Green building standard that embraces our unique climate concerns, building codes and material, energy, and natural resources. Fundamental to the program is an objective, third-party verification system that assures consumers that the new home or remodeling project performs as promised. The standard will be supported by a mandatory education program for builders and remodelers, as well as general education and promotion to consumers. 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.
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