Millennial Buyers’ Willingness to Pay for Green Features

Millennials Willing to Pay for Green in 2020?

Results from NAHB’s report, What Home Buyers Really Want (2019 Edition), show that Millennials want an environment-friendly home, but few are willing to pay more for it for that reason alone. They are, however, willing to pay for certain green features, such as those that provide energy efficiency and cost saving benefits over time. When asked…

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International Energy Conservation Code – Short Term Win for Future Homeowners

The Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield recently wrapped up an 18-month long process updating the city’s building codes. Much of that focus has been centered around the International Energy Conservation Code ®(IECC). Outside interest groups were pushing for an immediate full adoption of the of the 2018 IECC, which would add burdensome costs to…

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FREE Copy of the National Green Building Standard – Retail $19.95

The ICC/ASHRAE 700-2015 National Green Building Standard ™ is the premier rating system for sustainable construction. It provides developers, builders and remodelers with a credible definition of green building and a useful measurement of its relative environmental performance. The flexible, points-based system offers a process for building affordable green homes that accommodates varying climates, market…

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Why is R-22 Refrigerant so Expensive Now?

Phaseout of Ozone-Depleting Substances U.S. government has placed restrictions on how much refrigerant can be produced and by 2020 will no longer be produced. As the amount of R-22 refrigerant that’s available dwindles down, the cost of the refrigerant begins to skyrocket. So what should I do? If you have replaced or upgraded your system…

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Certified Green Professional (CGP) Classes in November – Sign Up Now!

Save the dates now for these valuable education classes on the Basics of Building and Green Building for Building Professionals. November 5- 7, 8am – 5pm each day Classes are sponsored by and held at Herrman Lumber (1917 S. State Hwy MM, Springfield, MO 65802) November 5 Basics of Building – Presented by Thomas Stephani.…

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NAHB Green is the Full Meal Deal for Energy Efficient Housing

Where does NAHB Green rating system fit in the process of building an energy efficient house? I have often compared ENERGY STAR homes built by master builders to the delights of a master chef who prepares meals to “die for.” The experience of a master, the quality of ingredients, the right equipment, and most important…

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Energy Star is Like a Good Chocolate Chip Recipe

I seldom meet a chocolate chip cookie I do not like. Occasionally, I come across one that is to “die for.” You know what I am talking about, the ones that are so good they should be illegal – maybe not in Colorado or Washington, but I digress. You would think that all chocolate chip…

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Registration Process for Projects Seeking NGBS Green Certification

In light of the 2012 National Green Building Standard (NGBS) development process nearing completion, the NAHB Research Center is launching a free registration process for its green certification program on November 1, 2012. This new registration step will allow single- and multifamily builders and developers to identify which rating system they plan to use on…

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WANTED: Builders, Remodelers, Installers, Contractors – FREE Building Seminar

Looking for more information on wall systems and their overall energy impact? How about a discussion about exterior insulation on traditional framed wall systems? Justin Wilson, national trainer and a leader in research for the construction industry will be presenting these topics next Tuesday (October 30th) at Meek’s Design Center (3231 N. Glenstone, Springfield), 9am-11:30am.…

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Builders’ Circle Blog: How Green is Greene?

Greene County has been “green” for years.  My Grandmother decades ago told me things like, “take care of the land and it will take care of you. Waste not, want not.”  And of course, “Turn off the light when you ain’t using it.”  Yes, she said “ain’t” and she also had no “i-de” she was…

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Builders’ Circle Blog: The Sound of Green is Free

You have to love words that don’t go together, words like “sound”, “green” and “free”. Placed in a sentence as in this title, they don’t appear to make sense. The confusion is that you first have to know what the sound of green is to understand why it is free. If you are thinking “green”…

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HBA Housing & Construction Conference May 23 – Last Chance to RSVP!

The HBA of Greater Springfield will host its third annual Ozarks Regional Housing and Construction Conference on Wednesday, May 23 at the Hilton Garden Inn in south Springfield. The 2012 conference builds on the success of the 2011 event, while offering a number of substantial improvements for participants in 2012. Highlights of the 2012 Conference include…

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Green Home Building to Increase as Much as 38% by 2016

A new report produced by McGraw-Hill Construction and released during the National Green Building Conference and Expo in Nashville this week estimates that the green homes share of the construction market will rise 29% – 38% by 2016 after having accounted for about 17% of the market in 2011. The “SmartMarket Report – New and…

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Builders’ Circle Blog: 30.78 Acres of Trees

It is not too often that I get to brag about the building industry that I work in, but bragging proof came in the mail yesterday.   ENERGY STAR notified me that I had rated 38 houses that were certified as ENERGY STAR Qualified in 2011.  I knew this, but they added some information I did…

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