who has become
"Green" Certified
under the NAHB Research Center's Green Program.
Elkhart County's first Certified "Green" site built home qualified for a Silver rating. "The home was built by Team Construction. It is a three bedroom home with a three car garage, stone front and open floor plan" said Todd Meier, a certified green builder.
Preparing for the home's groundbreaking meant deciding from a list of which "Green" products, materials or operating systems to incorporate to meet the green standards of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
In describing the NAHB checklist Meier said, "There are seven sections and we select green options under each section which are given points for those choices. At the end, those points are added up and the home qualifies for a rating of either bronze, silver, gold or emerald.
The star of this green home is the geothermal system which through research and statistics, it is estimated this system will save about $900 a year.
Final inspection on the home was conducted by TRA Certification, Inc. of Elkhart, Indiana. TRA, an internationally accredited registrar, has certified a number of green homes around the country.
"I think green buildings will be a real benefit to homeowners, home builders and the manufactured housing industry as well as to the environment. Homeowners need to know there are quite a few government credits offered to buyers who have certified green homes," said account manager Garry Puffer of TRA Certification, Inc.
TRA Certification President, Tom Arnold stated, "This is an outstanding example of how the NAHB program works. This was the first home we have certified by a conventional builder.