Growing Green II (Green Developing)

by Joel Barkman

A few months back I wrote a column about development in our area. Specifically - green development - and how such development could serve as the bridge that divides those that balk at the mere mention of the word 'development' and those that favor a responsible, practical, planned means of progress in Fauquier County.

The column focused on the green attributes of a development in Indiana - for lack of a suitable example in our county and for the sake of continuing the discussion, I would like to use Delaware as an example this time around.

The site of a waterfront townhome community located on the banks of the Indian River in Millsboro, Del., is the first on the East Coast and only the fourth nationwide to earn a four-star land development certification under the new National Green Building Standard, according to the National Association of Home Builders and the NAHB Research Center (NAHBRC), which developed the standard and certified the project.

The community will have a total of 130 homes when finished and features walking trails, a community swimming pool and pool house, a gazebo and direct access to the water from a crabbing and fishing pier, and a nature preserve located at the tip of a peninsula.

I serve as an advisor to local business people in Fauquier County who are proposing a similar project that would feature single-family homes, multi-family home, townhomes, small town shopping, cultural and civic facilities, and an organic farm to go along the parks and trails that would be created.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the proposed project with an "old town" feel - the development will serve as Continuing Care Retirement Community for our aging family members and neighbors.

Developments like this will play a "key role in extending the growth of green not only to the homes and apartments built, but also to the land and community area involved in those projects," said chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Developed by NAHB and the International Code Council, the National Green Building Standard is the first such system to be approved by the American National Standards Institute and is recognized for its stringent benchmarks in lot and site design, as well as energy, water and resource efficiency and indoor environmental quality.

The certification covers single-family homes, apartments and condos, residential land development and home remodeling projects and is administered by the NAHB Research Center, which also accredits local verifiers around the country.

"The National Green Building Standard provides a rigorous and verifiable definition of residential green construction, whether it be for single-family homes or multi-story apartment buildings," said president of the NAHB Research Center. "As the first and only existing national green building rating system that can be used for every type of residential project [even remodeling and renovations], the standard allows the Research Center to be a 'one-stop shop' for builders, remodelers and developers who want third-party validation for their green projects."

In planning such projects developers are encouraged to protect environmentally sensitive. Existing trees and vegetation are preserved in conjunction with tree buffers and conservation areas. Steep slopes are avoided to minimize erosion and the impact on area waterways, and the creation of bioswales and trench infiltration systems to capture and channel rainwater are also innovative ways to protect area water sources.

Subdivisions and developments can be rated from one to four stars, depending on the environmental challenges of the site. The first four-star certified development - in Burns Harbor, Ind. - was certified in March 2009. The two other four-star certified residential developments in the country are located in Arkansas and Michigan, and perhaps Virginia is not too far behind.

Especially if we can adopt some statewide or even local incentives to encourage those who choose to live and build green. NAHB recently congratulated the Home Builders Association of Delaware and state officials on the creation of a program that offers cash incentives for building homes certified by the NAHB Research Center to the National Green Building Standard. "This is significant news for home buyers in the First State," said NAHB Chairman. "These incentives help bring green homes down to a more competitive price point, and that's especially important for today's consumer."

Delaware Green for Green is a partnership between home builders and the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. The rebates range from $3,000 for homes built to the Silver level of the standard to $5,000 for Gold and $6,000 for the Emerald level.

The incentives are structured to reflect the progressively more rigorous requirements of the standard: For example, homes at the Emerald level are built to be 60 percent more energy efficient than homes built to prevailing building codes.

My challenge to our local leaders and officials is to enact similar measures "to spur demand for energy-efficient homes, thereby increasing jobs while reducing our carbon footprint. It's a win-win for everyone."

What exactly does green have to do with growth? - just "Ask a Builder."

As always e-mail your questions or comments to joel@goldenrulebuilders.com or write to "Ask a Builder" at P.O. box 294, Catlett, VA 20119.

Barkman is past president of the Fauquier Chapter of The Northern Virginia Building Industry Association.

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