The new ANSI-accredited NAHB National Green Building Standard is a few months old, but picking up momentum with home builders across the nation.  From what I have seen and heard at the recent NAHB Green Building Conference in Dallas on May 8-10, 2009, this program will soon rival the USGBC’s LEED for Homes standard. 

I see one major difference, in that you must meet minimum requirements in each section and your weakest section will determine your achievement level.  Another key difference, as it affects the timber industry, is that any third-party certified wood can be used, not just FSC certified woods.  This allows for a wider availability of imported species that are SFI, PEFC, or even Certi-Source certified. 

The new NAHB standard has 1,300 projects registered as of May 1, 2009, and growing.  This standard is the only ANSI-approved consensus standard.  It is applicable to all residential building, remodeling and land development.  It’s compatible to building codes.  There’s a free green scoring tool on the NAHB Green website.  The development team has done a nice job across the board in a short period of time.

After reviewing the standard, I have found numerous direct, as well as indirect, opportunities for 36 total potential points where East Teak woods fit in:

• 2.2.8     7 pts       Use termite-resistant materials for walls, floor joists, trusses, exterior decks, etc.
• 2.4.1     3 pts       Use recycled-content building materials
• 2.6.1     3-5 pts   Use materials manufactured from renewable resources
• 2.6.2     4 pts       Use certified wood and use wood-based materials from certified sources
• 5.3.4     8 pts       Protect unused moisture-sensitive materials by JIT delivery, storing in dry area, or tenting/storing on raised platform
• 5.3.8     4 pts       Check moisture content of wood before it is enclosed on both sides
• 7.1.3     5 pts       Use low-VOC sealants

If you have any questions on these points or need to walk through a more detailed analysis, East Teak is here to help.  Call us or email us and we will work with you on your project.  For more information on East Teak’s third-party certified woods, visit www.CertifiedHardwoods.com.  For more information on the NAHB Green Building Standard, visit the NAHB Green Website.

Tags:   FSC certified woods · Green Building · NAHB · NAHB Green Building Conference · National Association of Homebuilders No Comments