Easy on the eyes and the environment

Such efforts appear to be paying off. In a survey conducted by WCI and the Florida Energy Extension Service at the University of Florida, more than three-quarters of respondents said they would spend more for a green product. Nearly 90 percent said they would pay more for green home features if they recouped their expenses within five years, such as with lower electric bills.

Going green is also increasingly important in remodeling.

"New homes are relatively easy to make green," says Carl Seville, vice president of SawHorse, a residential building and renovation firm in Atlanta. "Existing homes become a lot more complicated."

He and others in Atlanta have put together a green remodeling program. "It has to be simple enough so people can do it," he says, "but complex enough so it's effective."

Whatever the approach, the real issue, Reinson says, comes down to the sustainability of the planet.

"If you do one house, will it matter?" he asks. "Probably not. But if you do a thousand, and the industry begins to change as well, you're looking at an industry that does a better job of being environmentally sustainable than it does today. It's a creative path."

The idea of "going green" appeals to many people, but what does that actually mean? The most basic definition from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) refers to buildings that are "resource- efficient" in design, construction, and operation. It applies to environmental quality both inside and outside the home.

Green building, the NAHB explains, offers persuasive and often measurable benefits. These include:

• Lower utility bills. Homes that require less heating and cooling and use fewer gallons of water are less expensive to operate.

• Less maintenance. More durable building materials reduce upkeep. And lawns that require less watering and weeding, and decks that need no sealing or staining, give homeowners more free time.

• Improved environmental quality. Builders' attention to moisture control and the use of paints and materials that do not give off gases contribute to a healthier indoor environment. Overall resource efficiency within individual houses also contributes to a better local environment.

• Increased home value. Documented lower utility bills and reduced upkeep can bring higher selling prices, according to owners of green structures.

But even with these benefits, some homeowners - and builders - still have a lot to learn about what's involved with green homes.

Even construction debris becomes an issue. "It's very much a part of sustainable building to manage waste during construction," says Karen Childress, environmental stewardship manager of WCI Communities Inc., developer of a prototype green home in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., chosen as Florida's "greenest house."

"There's a tremendous need for understanding from subcontractors," she adds. "You don't want everything going to the landfill." They prefer to separate and recycle construction materials.

Al Hoffman Jr., CEO of WCI, likens the overall education process to teaching a child to ride a bicycle. "You start with training wheels," he says. "Right now our industry is sort of on training wheels with manufacturers, contractors, and customers. We've got to bring them all along simultaneously."

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