FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 23, 2008
Contact: Brad Wurfel, 503-603-4508

Home builders formalize green building efforts

The Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland recently formed a Building Green Council and hired a Green Building Specialist to its team, as part of the organization’s continued effort to educate home builders and the community about green building practices.

The moves represent the next steps in HBA's ongoing efforts in green and sustainable building for the greater Portland housing market.Green building continues to grow in popularity among builders and homeowners, but the specifics of what it means in home construction – and why home buyers should prefer it – remain a challenge in many areas.

“We’ve been working hard for the past several years to support and help the industry work collaboratively with various green building programs and initiatives,” said HBA Government Affairs Director Jim McCauley. “Providing education for members, creating pilot projects with local jurisdictions, identifying current and future trends, helping builders market to consumers more effectively, and figuring out how to meet both economic and environmental goals are all areas where we maintain a strong focus.”

The council will provide educational opportunities, endorse legislature aimed at reducing barriers to green building, identify and address concerns from the building community and promote events aimed at increasing the public’s understanding of green building.

Green Building Specialist Michelle DePass will serve as the HBA’s staff liaison to the council, as well as working to connect environmental partners like Energy Trust of Oregon and Earth Advantage to home building professionals in Portland and Salem.

“Much thanks goes to Energy Trust of Oregon, who providedmuch of the funding needed tounderwrite this position,” said HBA CEO David Nielsen.“Green building means lots of things, including sustainable building and development practices, reduced construction site waste, reduced carbon footprint, lower energy costs, and healthier indoor air.Helping builders and our industry understand these various issues is the way to ensure they are implemented as a new standard in home construction.

“Our Building Green Council and this new staff position are part of our commitment to build green awareness in Portland’s housing market, and these moves will help us achieve long-standing green goals more quickly.”