EARTH DAY 2021: THE RISE OF HEALTHIER HOMES
In celebration of Earth Day 2021, the Green Built Gulf Coast (GBGC) program has released an updated consumer website, www.greenbuiltgulfcoast.org. This new site offers an up-close look at what green building means to the homeowner – namely durability, quality, cost savings, and smart design. Site visitors will find detailed information on choosing green products and locating homes that have been certified in the program. They can also search verified, local companies that are doing their part for a sustainable future.
“Resiliency is important to our homebuilding community. We’re pleased that so many local builders, remodelers and suppliers are embracing sustainable building practices. Families in our region live smarter and save money at home by choosing the GBGC program.”Aimee Bertrand, CEO, Greater Houston Builders Association
Launched in 2008, the Green Built Gulf Coast Program (GBGC) is an initiative of the Greater Houston Builders Association. Under the GBGC program, the Association adopted the National Green Building StandardTM ICC 700-2012 which allows flexibility for regionally appropriate green building practices. This StandardTM is the first American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-approved residential green building program in the nation.
The GBGC is a voluntary green building program in which all Association members can participate including builders, remodelers, developers and associates offering green products. Unlike other green building programs, GBGC has provisions for both single-family and multi-family lot developments and projects. There are four performance levels with the GBGC program that can be achieved: Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Emerald.
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“Resiliency is important to our homebuilding community,” says Aimee Bertrand, CEO of the Greater Houston Builders Association. “We’re pleased that so many local builders, remodelers and suppliers are embracing sustainable building practices. Families in our region live smarter and save money at home by choosing the GBGC program.”
When homebuyers choose a Green Built Gulf Coast Home it is their guarantee they are purchasing an authentic green home, built with specific modifications to thrive in the Gulf Coast region. GBGC homes and products adhere to the one and only national green standard and require strict compliance and third-party verification procedures.
“We all know that the Gulf Coast climate is unique from the rest of the country,” adds Bertrand. “The beauty of the GBGC program is its remarkable ability to tailor itself to the needs and interests of homebuyers seeking eco-friendly solutions within the Gulf Coast area. GBGC is a program right here in your neighborhood built by your local builders, with local oversight of all aspects.”
The five top green questions buyers should ask a builder before purchasing a home:
• Are you a Green Built Gulf Coast (GBGC) member?
• What are the short-term and long-term costs and savings?
• How are you constructing my house so it improves its performance?
• How resilient is my house?
• How will the green features of this home enhance my daily living?
Whether purchasing a new home or remodeling an existing home, the GBGC program has the credentials, experts, and local oversight to pave the way for green building in the Gulf Coast area. By building a green community that is an integral part of a concept that is becoming a way of life, the GBGC program exceeds in its class.
To learn more, visit the GBGC website at www.greenbuiltgulfcoast.org or contact Donna Buenik, Director of Builder Programs and Liaison to the Green Building Committee, at dbuenik@ghba.org or (281) 664-1429.