Builders Push Voluntary Green Certification

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Green building may be coming to a city near you. While the Florida Legislature now requires all new and refurbished government/public buildings to be green certified, meeting more environmentally-friendly standards, the Volusia Home Builders Association hopes Volusia County and its 16 cities adopt a voluntary green building program for homes and commercial buildings.

The association unveiled a draft ordinance Monday it will soon circulate to local governments for consideration. "This is a template, a starting point for the discussion," said Greg Blose, the association's director of government affairs. "These are broad generalities that governments can pick and choose from. They don't even have to do it. But it's the right thing to do."

Cities can either adopt the U.S. Green Building Council green building certification program or the Florida Green Building Coalition's program, which is similar to the national program but more designated to Florida's unique building needs. Making the program voluntary for private development is the key for builders, said Steve Reeger, special projects coordinator and building science specialist with ICI Homes.

"It cannot be mandatory," Reeger said Monday. "We do not need more regulations. Let us be creative and let the consumers decide what they want us to do and what they are willing to pay. We can put an emerald star on a home, but if the consumer is not willing to write a check, it's a waste of time." Incentives also would help entice builders. Suggested incentives include reduced permit and impact fees for certified green buildings, fast track plan reviews, density bonuses for reducing land use and property tax credits for 10 years of between 3 percent and 12 percent.

"The return for us on all this is a better chance to sell a house when the owner is paying smaller water and electric bills," said Jerry Johnson of The Johnson Group. "It may cost them $25 more a month in the mortgage, but they may save $250 on the utility bills. Water and electric are going up. We need to educate people on the benefits of green." Education is one reason why the homebuilders association wants to take the lead and encourage green building regulations and incentives, Blose said.

The association already has resources and an active member education program that can be extended to governments and the public. A Volusia Home Builders Association Green Building Council is being created to coordinate the green efforts and the association's Web site, vhba.org, is a central place to post and release green information," Blose said. "There is a tremendous market out there for green building," he said. "It makes sense for us to lead."