Lowder New Homes Earns Two Green Building Certifications

Montgomery, AL - On Earth Day, April 22, Lowder New Homes will announce that it has received two important professional certifications in green building.  It has been named a Certified Green Professional by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a Green Energy Key Builder by the Home Builders Association of Alabama (HBAA).

“We’re extremely proud to have earned these certifications which designate us as knowledgeable and professional in building energy-efficient and ecologically responsible homes,” said Jimmy Rutland, vice president of the Montgomery-based homebuilder.

The NAHB Certified Green Professional designation recognizes builders who have special expertise in green building methods and incorporate green building principles into their homes.  The HBAA’s Energy Key program certifies builders who are qualified to build homes that will have lower utility costs and increased comfort.

Standards and Benefits of Building Green

Rutland noted that Energy Key homes must comply with energy-efficiency standards for insulation, sealing of the home for air tightness, use of double-paned windows and other factors.  He said that building green has considerable benefits for the homeowner.  Green-built homes cost less to operate and maintain because they use energy and other resources more efficiently.  Building green also gives people the satisfaction of using the earth’s resources more responsibly.

Lowder Makes Many Green Features Standard

While there are many options on the market today for building greener homes, Rutland pointed out that Lowder New Homes already incorporates many green features into every home it builds.

Features that come standard on Lowder-built homes include Energy Star appliances, proper orientation of the home on the building site, insulated windows, piping materials and carpeting that are environmentally responsible, James Hardie siding, clay brick made within 500 miles of home sites and landscaping materials designed for drought tolerance and erosion control.

Many Other Green Features Available

Dozens of other green features can be added.  These include tankless water heaters, extra wall and ceiling insulation, water filtration systems, special seals and sheathing for air filtration systems, ducts and dampers, and many other green options.

With green building being the hot trend in homebuilding, the NAHB expects one in every ten homes to be built green by 2010.

 

Posted on Apr 23, 2009 | 4:48 PM