Homebuilding Going Green in New Mexico!

"Green-built" homes are becoming very trendy, in New Mexico and nationwide, as is illustrated in a recent article in the Albuquerque Journal.

In 2004, The National Association of Homebuilders initiated a program that set guidelines for builders and created an independent certification process, and, last year, the Homebuilders Association of Central New Mexico, modifying these guidelines somewhat to suit the Southwest, created the program "Build Green New Mexico." In just its first year, the program has attracted some 45 area builders, and should have 70 or more homes certified in the next six months.

So, what qualifies a home as "green" under this program? The education chairman of Build Green New Mexico says the program is centered on seven principles:

1. Lot design, preparation and development, to create the best use of the sun and least disturbance of soil and foliage
2. Resource efficiency, using recycled materials and minimizing waste
3. Energy efficiency, using insulation and sealing, flourescent lighting, ENergy STar appliances, etc.
4. Water efficiency, so important in the desert Southwest, stresses the use of drip irrigation, gray water usage, and low-flow toilets, for example.
5. Indoor air quality improvement, involving elimination of such volatile organic compounds as toluene, and benzene
6. Homeowner education is designed to provide new owners with literature explaining the operation, maintenance, and warranty procedures, plus explaining receycling opportunities and other community initiatives
7. Global impact considerations, including the elimination of the afore-mentioned volatile organic compounds, use of recycled materials, and minimizing pollution due to transportation by using materials manufactured close to home as much as possible.

As being "environmentally friendly" becomes more and more trendy, builders are becoming more interested in creating a "green" image. Some are even beginning to put "Green-Built" stickers on their signs. While interest was somewhat limited previously due to increased cost considerations, increased fuel costs, concenrs about global warming, and tax breaks have made moroe environmentally friendly construction more affordable, bringing them well within the range of middle-income buyers. Steve Hale, founding member of the Build Green New Mexico committee, is quoted as saying " on a $200,000 house you can get very goodd energy upgrades for 3 percent to 5 percent of the total cost." With such an upgrade providing a smaller, more efficient heating and colling system, the homeowner might save $450 per year, making the extra expense more attractive.

To dedicated environmentalists, these principles may well seem to be "too little, too late," and, to an extent, I'd have to agree with that. Merely conforming to the seven principles above seems falls far short of being really "earth-friendly." But surely even "baby steps" in the right direction should be encouraged. So, kudos to the National HomeBuilders Association, and to the Homebuilders Association of Central New Mexico for moving in the right direction; but please, don't stop here!

Want to check out some of these "green" construction techniques. Tracy Venturi recently posted information about a "Green-Built Tour" in Albuquerque on May 19th and 20th! Take a look!

www.LauraWarden.com