Nearly 100,000 green homes being built nationwide

That is more than a 50 percent increase from the last survey of green homes: In 2004, the National Association of Home Builders Research Center counted 61,000 green homes in the United States.

"This astounding number is yet another indication that market-driven programs, not mandates, are the best way to encourage the growth of green building," says NAHB President Brian Catalde, a Southern California home builder. "The home building industry is leading efforts to make homes more energy- and resource-efficient."

NAHB has been encouraging these efforts over the years by providing builder education, and in 2004 published Model Green Home Building Guidelines to help its local associations establish their own climate-specific, market-appropriate programs. In 2007, NAHB announced that, to further promote industry advances, it would create an American National Standards Institute-accredited residential green building standard, slated to be completed early next year.

The success of voluntary green building programs around the country speaks to the industry's commitment to reducing the operating costs of homes, conserving water and energy, improving resource-efficiency and minimizing construction waste. NAHB is collaborating with the International Codes Council to develop the green building standard, which will bring uniformity to sustainable building. The standard will serve as a baseline for green building programs without abandoning the proven principle that voluntary, region-specific, flexible programs can be truly green and also allow for innovation.

"The success of these regional programs is something that's very important to keep in mind as the residential green building standard comes closer to completion," Catalde says. "The new standard won't replace these programs, but it will provide builders all over the country with common ground - a green baseline that everyone can agree on."

Among the success stories: