Green Too Expensive? Get A Better Builder

Recently I read an Associated Press article entitled, “’Green’: A Tough Sell for Home Builders”. The article (Bend Bulletin, March 8, 2007), stated “the National Association of Home Builders predicts a rise in green building to 10% of homes by 2010 from 2% today. However, experts say that large residential builders have been slower to respond to this trend.” According to the head of one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, consumers have been unwilling to pay for green features, assuming “green” technologies cost substantially more than traditional, non-sustainable building practices.

As a builder specializing in green – or sustainable - building practices, I take exception to the implication that consumers are not ready to adopt green technologies. I believe homeowners are willing and able to embrace green technologies into their homes to preserve Central Oregon’s environment.

A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of touring and volunteering at the 3e Strategies annual Building Green and Solar Homes Tour, the largest of its kind in the nation. The homes on tour featured energy-saving mechanical systems, solar hot water or supplemental power, low VOC interior finishes, or all of the above. These homes demonstrated dozens of measures that can be taken to make a home green and perform to higher standards.

Building green just does not have to be that complex or expensive. Green building can be defined in many ways and can fit literally any reasonably conceived home-building budget. It’s often simply a matter of finding the right mix of options. If your home builder only offers options that seem too far-flung or expensive, then find a builder that will work with you to stay within your budget to build a green, more efficient home.

Green technologies are within reach of homeowners. There are builders in Central Oregon who will construct quality green homes, educate you about the options available to you, and provide outstanding customer service in the process. The Central Oregon environment and homeowners will benefit from green, sustainable technologies.