Why take the Green Building Course at the Convention?

Keith Smith,
President, Home Builders Association of South Carolina

When energy prices soared in the late 1970s, NAHB was the first organization to step forward and introduce voluntary energy guidelines for new residential construction, and the energy efficiency of new housing has more than doubled in the last 30 years. Now, South Carolina's builders have an opportunity to make a tremendous impact on green building in our state. A few local HBAs have already implemented green building programs - Greenville, Charleston, and Columbia-and now is the time for all of our members to take the necessary steps towards something great.

For the first time, the HBA of South Carolina is offering the NAHB's Green Building for the Building Professional course at this year's state convention in Myrtle Beach. The course is based on the NAHB's Model Green Home Building Guidelines, and it falls in line with most green building programs. Our industry has propelled market-driven green building into the mainstream with these guidelines, and I'm encouraging all of our members to get on board and take the green building course at the convention.

Why are we doing this? Surging consumer demand has made green building more mainstream than ever. And the course is designed to help all builders understand green building principles and how green homes provide energy-efficiency and environmental protection. You'll also find out how to competitively differentiate your homes from other builders with increased environmental quality as well as energy and resource efficiency.

Members who are already participating in a green building program will benefit from this course. EarthCraft House and Green Building Initiative (GBI) are two programs currently being implemented in different areas of our state. Both of these programs are based on the same principles as those taught in the Green Building for Building Professionals course, such as preparing and designing lots to reduce development's impact on vegetation, soil and water can also enhance long-term performance. In fact, GBI used the NAHB's Model Green Home Building Guidelines, as well as other guidelines, in developing their own guidelines.

No matter what guidelines your local HBA chooses to follow, we are the ones who will be putting them into practice. I also see them as a tool to help our association get formally involved in the green building movement, and attending this course is a step in that direction.

For more information about the Green Building for Building Professionals course and the convention, call the HBA of SC at 803-771-7408, or visit us online and download a registration form at www.HBAofSC.com.