Socal Multiunit Real Estate

THE GOVERNMENT HAS $72 BILLION FOR GREEN REAL ESTATE

By Jodi Summers

Experts have calculated that the Obama administration has put together more than 30 programs worth $72 billion that can be used to increase energy efficiency in commercial buildings and multifamily housing.

“The Obama Administration has tremendous, untapped opportunities to use legal tools already at its disposal to enhance the energy efficiency and sustainability of the nation’s multifamily and commercial buildings — all without seeking new funds or authority from Congress,” observes a report prepared by Van Ness Feldman. “All told, the programs identified in this report have the potential to directly provide or facilitate over $72 billion in funding or loan guarantees, and can leverage hundreds of billions of dollars in private investment through instruments such as mortgage insurance and regulation of the real estate lending market.”

Titled “Using Executive Authority to Achieve Greener Buildings: A Guide for Policymakers to Enhance Sustainability and Efficiency in Multifamily Housing and Commercial Buildings,” the legal analysis, suggests several ways the Obama administration can use existing programs to enhance building efficiency:

* Reforming appraisal and underwriting practices at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Greening federal banking regulations

* Promoting flexible FHA insurance products

* Integrating energy efficiency and sustainability criteria into competitive grants and funding formulas

* Strengthening minimum property standards for federal housing and economic development programs to reflect energy efficiency and sustainability standards

* Improving performance standards applicable to federal buildings and leases

* Refining guidance applicable to the energy efficient commercial buildings tax deduction and the national historic preservation tax credit

* Using SBA funding mechanisms to support small business energy efficiency investments

* Streamlining Title 17 loan guarantees to make them suitable for buildings

“As an early adopter of green buildings and the LEED green building certification system, the federal government has been a leader in bringing green buildings to cities and towns across America,” said Roger Platt, the USGBC’s senior vice president of Global Policy & Law declared. “This new report unveils an even larger opportunity for the Obama Administration to increase our nation’s energy efficiency, while creating thousands of jobs and saving taxpayers money.”

**

http://www.usgbc.org/government

http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2010/04/30/obama-already-has-72b-tap-green-buildings-study-says

http://www.boulderindependentbusiness.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/namaste_obama_0093.jpg

http://www.rechargenews.com/multimedia/archive/00032/obama_solar_3_32125a.jpg

LOS ANGELES WINS THE ENERGY STAR GRAND PRIZE…AGAIN

By Jodi Summers

Bravo to all of you greening your properties. According to our friends at the environmental protection agency, approximately 3,900 commercial buildings earned the Energy Star rating in 2009, representing annual savings of more than $900 million in utility bills and more than 4.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Impressively, nearly 9,000 buildings across the nation have earned the Energy Star for superior energy efficiency during the past 11 years.

A standing ovation for our beloved Los Angeles. The EPA ranked us as first on its annual list of metro areas with the most energy-efficient buildings. We led the field with 293 buildings labeled Energy Star in 2009, up from the 262 that qualified the city as No. 1 in 2008.

Kudos also go to our nation’s capitol. Washington, DC, ranked fourth place in 2008, is now in second, with 204 Energy Star buildings, up from 136 the previous year.

Energy Star is a voluntary labeling program run by the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy. In order to qualify, a building or manufacturing plant must score in the top 25 percent based , on the agency’s National Energy Performance Rating System and use less energy, reduce operating expenses and cause fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Roll the credits - the top 25 cities with the most energy star labeled buildings in 2009 are:

1. Los Angeles, CA

2. Washington, DC

3. San Francisco, CA

4. Denver, CO

5. Chicago, IL

6. Houston, TX

7. Lakeland, FL

8. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX

9. Atlanta, GA

10. New York, NY

11. Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

12. Portland, OR

13. Boston, MA

14. Seattle, WA

15. Detroit, MI

16. Sacramento, CA

17. San Diego, CA

18. Austin, TX

19. Miami, FL

20. Phoenix, AZ

21. Ogden, UT

22. Charlotte, NC

23. Indianapolis, IN

24. Des Moines, IA/Fort Collins, CO/Philadelphia, PA

25. Louisville, KY

**

http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2010/03/23/la-takes-top-spot-epa-green-building-rankings

http://www.costar.com/News/Article.aspx?id=624F645516667EF93A09A56906607F8E&ref=100&iid=174&cid=383F14EEE265B182474DA2442BACBBBF

http://gateway.costar.com/imageviewer/GetImage.aspx?webimage=EPA+Energy+Star.JPG

http://lakelandflforeclosures.com/images/lakelandatnight.jpg

http://www.staronetickets.com/images/Seattle.jpg

http://away.com/images/outside/200808/ogden-ut.jpg

http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicc/cfiles28462.jpg

LIGHTING – AN EASY STEP TO GREEN YOUR BUILDINGS

By Jodi Summers

Today’s favorite factoid: in the typical commercial building, lighting costs about $1 per square foot. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lighting consumes as much as 30 percent of all electric expenses in commercial buildings nationwide, costing businesses some $37 billion.

Experts note that with recent advancements in lighting technology, it’s possible to half your lighting expenses. Your typical 200,000 square foot building may offer $100,000

annual savings through re-lighting.

Many buildings are currently using HID lighting. With High Intensity Discharge bulbs, light is produced by creating and sustaining an electrical discharge between two electrodes which excites a mixture of xenon gas and mercury for a bright white light.

By converting to fluorescent systems that use motion sensors.

The initial cost of Fluorescent lighting systems has barrier to wider use, but if you do the spread sheets you’ll realize this is short-sighted thinking for a big-picture building. Fluorescent lamps are considerably cheaper to operate and the lamps last far longer, reducing the long term cost-of-operation.

Another upside, if you don’t want that cold classroom look, recent technological improvements has produced “warmer” lamp colors, smaller fluorescent lighting systems. These innovations, plus the cost-efficiency have produced a renewed interest in using fluorescent lighting in residential and commercial locations.

**

http://greenerbuildings.com/blog/2010/01/28/lighting-path-greener-bottom-line

http://www.grote.com/tech/dictionary/#H

http://nemesis.lonestar.org/reference/electricity/fluorescent/index.html

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/hatchetman07/lightningtribal.jpg

http://www.bvallc.com/pensionblog/uploaded_images/Green%20Light-732415.jpg

http://becbrittain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/greenlighting1.jpg

LOS ANGELES MULTIUNIT PROPERTY SNAPSHOT – DECEMBER 2009

LOS ANGELES MULTIUNIT PROPERTY SNAPSHOT – DECEMBER 2009

By Jodi Summers

Didja know that Los Angeles County (Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale Metro Division) covers 4,084 square miles, and had a January 1, 2008 population of 10,363,800 residents? According to the California Department of Finance, this is an increase of 844,500 persons since 2000. What’s more, according to the American Community Survey of 2007, the demographic profile of Los Angeles County indicates that: 47.3% of the population is Hispanic, 28.8% white non-Hispanic, 14.4% Asian-Pacific Islander, and 9.6% black. About 75% of the population has a high school diploma or more, while 28% has a bachelor’s degree or more.

All those people need a place to live, which is why the multiunit property market is so hot…and now is a great time to buy. New construction is way down, and gross rent multipliers have dropped considerably. Savvy investors know that we are at the bottom of the marketplace….and statistics will prove this. According to Clarus Market Metrics, from November 2007 – November 2009, the number of for sale properties is down 49% and the number of sold properties is up 45%. To augment this dynamic multiunit market statistic, note that the median price of properties for sale is down 11% and the median price of sold properties is down 69%. Very appealing statistics for investors.

Real estate magnet Sam Zell recently noted that a further crash in the multiunit real estate market is “…Greatly exaggerated… Everyone is waiting for the grave dancer to come and exercise his magic potion, but you need two to tango.”

Zell observed that owners of apartment buildings do not necessarily have an incentive to sell, and vacancy rates are still hovering very low, around 5% in more desirable parts of town.

**

http://www.laedc.org/eedge/index.html

http://www.laedc.org/businessscan/charts

http://www.laedc.org/newsroom/releases/2009/072209_MidYearForecast.pdf

http://www.grubb-ellis.com/research/reports.aspx

http://www.laedc.org/eedge/index.html

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=36105&print=1

Sustainable Industries’ Top 10 Green Building Products of 2009

Sustainable Industries’ Top 10 Green Building Products of 2009

Edited by Jodi Summers

Not to be outdone by other trends, Sustainable Industries magazine has made their choices
for the 2009 Top 10 Green Building Products. These industry-leading green building products
winners were selected by a panel of expert judges and the Sustainable Industries editorial team 
based on their environmental performance, scalability/market impact, innovation,design
aesthetic, value and compatibility with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. 

The 2009 Top 10 Green Building Product winners are:

Acadia Combined Heating and Cooling System

Made by Hallowell International

(www.gotohallowell.com)

The Acadia is not just another heating and cooling system. It maintains 200 percent efficiency even when outdoor temperatures drop well below zero..should global climate change ever affect us that severely. Acadia users can save up to 70 percent of their home heating energy costs.

ec-H20

Made by Tennant Co.

(www.tennantco.com)

Requiring no chemicals, ec-H2O uses tap water to clean most any surface of most any substance. Each machine reduces water usage by 70 to 80 percent, and the potential of 245 million gallons of water each year if it were installed in all new floor-cleaning machines.

InSpire Wall

Made by ATAS International

(www.atas.com)

This simple technology uses the power of the sun to heat outdoor air before sending it indoors, thereby slashing energy use while boosting indoor air quality. Depending on what kind of heating fuel is being replaced, this product can reduce heating costs by up to $5 for each square foot of InSpire Wall installed.

kama EEBS Structural Systems

Made by kama Energy Efficient Building Systems Inc.

(www.kama-eebs.com)

kama EEBS Structural Systems integrate light gauge metal stud framing system with expanded polystyrene insulation in a proprietary design that eliminates thermal bridging and helps to create a tight, energy-efficient building envelope.

PlybooPure Bamboo Plywood

Made by Smith & Fong Co.

(www.plyboo.com)

Because it’s technically a grass, bamboo had not previously been eligible for FSC certification. But in January 2008, after two years of lobbying, Smith & Fong achieved this first that propelled it to recognition on this year’s Top 10 list.

RainTube

Made by GLI Systems Inc.

(www.raintube.com)

This product received more Top 10 nominations than any other product this year. RainTube is a rain gutter filter made of 100 percent post-consumer high-density polyethylene – old milk jugs, in other words. This product is also Cradle to Cradle-certified, meaning that GLI Systems Inc had to develop a Post-Use Recovery Plan that goes out with every product.

Separett Villa

Made by Separett

(www.ecovita.net/villa)

This urine-diverting composting toilet – which is 100 percent PVC fee –uses no water and keeps solids separate from liquids, reducing odor and making it possible to reuse waste and urine for composting and fertilizing. The Separett Villa can be deployed where no plumbing exists, allowing for a greater reach of the technology.

Serious Windows

Made by Serious Materials

(www.seriouswindows.com)

Serious Windows are so efficient they have the potential to allow for the elimination of a building’s heating system, allowing waste heat from building appliances to serve as the main heat source in some applications. The windows have a full-frame R value of at least five and up to 11, which can cut a building’s energy bills by up to 50 percent per month.

Solatube Daylighting Systems

Made by Solatube International

(www.solatube.com)

This patented technology catches direct sunlight and redirects it down an adjustable-length tube, bringing daylight to parts of buildings that would not otherwise have access to natural light. The Vista, Calif.-based company recently launched a product specifically designed for commercial applications, making it ideal for large-roofed warehouses and manufacturing facilities, as well as retail stores and schools – allplaces that have been shown to benefit from increased daylight, as daylight is linked to higher worker productivity, decreased absenteeism and better retail sales.

Your Old Light Fixture

Made by Eleek

(www.eleekinc.com)

Eleek is the only business to make the Top 10 Green Building Products list all four years. Though not a product, Eleek’s lighting restoration service speaks to the important concept of the re-use of existing goods. When Eleek restores a light fixture, every piece of a fixture is taken apart, repaired and restored to its original splendor. Its wiring is updated to comply with modern codes and standards and a new lamp base is installed so it works with energy-efficient lamps such as CFLs and LEDs.

Original article @ http://www.sustainableindustries.com/greenbuilding/49012336.html

U2 CAN BUY COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES @ AUCTION

U2 CAN BUY COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES @ AUCTION

By Jodi Summers

Going, going, gone…with the commercial loan market in such a pathetic state, auctions are the fastest way for banks to unload undesired commercial property assets.

“Sellers are coming to the realization that the price point they had in mind is not a reality. That’s where auctions are so useful in determining value — bringing people together through competitive bidding,“ observed National Auctioneer Association spokesman Chris Longly. “Our membership is seeing more energy and movement this year on the commercial real estate side.“

The National Association of Auctioneers estimates that $58.6 billion in real estate was sold in private live-auction bidding in the U.S. in 2008, up 38.5% from five years ago. Auctions in residential real estate have risen 47.7%, raw land (including agriculture) 36.8%. Commercial real estate is up 31.3%, to $15.5 billion in gross auction sales for 2008. Last year, banks were dealing with residential real estate issues, now, banks are confronting commercial property asset issues.

While the foreclosure moratorium was on in residential, banks were able to reassess their commercial assets. You’ll note that auction activity growing in the 2^nd half of 2009, with major online commercial auction events. In the second half of July, NAI Global offered 75 investment properties in 21 states valued at more than $250 million. The timed online auction will include 58 properties — including the historic State Theatre in South Bend, IN, which still bears bullet holes from the nearby shootout following John Dillinger’s final bank robbery on June 30, 1934 — and 14 other properties. In late July, Sperry Van Ness/Guardian held an auction at the Hyatt Regency in Los Angeles includes more than $100 million in real-estate owned (REO), bank-ordered and developer close-out assets in six Western states.

Among the high profile properties going up for sale is the historic Watergate Hotel made infamous during President Nixon’s wiretapping antics. (http://www.socalofficerealestateblog.com/?p=669). Other noteworthy pieces of real estate hitting the auction market include development sites in the metro Washington, DC area, retail sites in Highland Park, IL, and Spokane, WA, the historic theater redevelopment in South Bend, IN, and an infill site in Flint, MI; an upscale hotel/golf resort in Beecher, WI, and a fully entitled multifamily development tract in Navarre Beach, FL, plus lots of excess and partially developed inventory.

Even the government is getting into it. As you know, the state has been selling off their legacy assets - http://www.santamonicapropertyblog.com/?p=1188, and take a cursory glance @ what the U.S. government might be auctioning off in California, and we find industrial properties in Laguna Nigel, Morro Bay and Red Bluff.

“We’re probably seeing a 30 to 40% increase this year” in office, retail, industrial, multifamily and land auction inquiries, remarked Paul Rogers, senior vice president @ Inland Real Estate Auctions, Inc. “With bank activity in particular, we’re going to be busy for the rest of this year — and probably well into next year.”

This trend echoes the real estate slump of the 1990s and early 2000s, with commercial properties following residential foreclosure auctions after they have been mainstays in the downturn. Companies auctioning properties note that it is an opportunity to sell assets quickly, reduce holding costs, and secure true market value under unpredictable market conditions.

**

Sources:

http://www.costar.com/News/Article.aspx?id=F9243DEB83153259F95525F184C9EEE8&ref=100&iid=140&cid=383F14EEE265B182474DA2442BACBBBF

http://fasrp.sc.egov.usda.gov/fasrp/mainAction.do;jsessionid=804CCE54F02BBCC115D4B0BA22A910FF?pageAction=GetCounties&state=CA&stateName=California

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/20090720_Watergate_auction_drawing_interest.html

http://www.socalofficerealestateblog.com/?p=669

http://media.commercialappeal.com/mca/content/img/photos/2009/04/16/b17auction.jpeg

http://ethicalforeclosurefortunes.com/wp-content/themes/thesis/rotator/govt_auctions_sm.jpg

http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/5117276/237446-main_Full.jpg

http://www.unitedcountry.com/picturesx/10086-10099-1576957.jpg

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/foreclosures-may-o9.png

http://www.mccallauctions.com/auctions/photos/1074/p12368596779029.jpg

THE GREENEST BUILDING IS THE ONE THAT’S ALREADY BUILT

By Jodi Summers

We love this website http://www.thegreenestbuilding.org/. The Greenest Building website is based on the premise of “the Greenest Building is the One Already Built,” and they have the calculators to support that claim.

The goal is to get developers to rehab existing buildings as opposed to tearing them down and building new structures.

For example, the embodied energy calculator will figure out the total energy spent in the production of a building, from the manufacture of materials to their delivery to construction.

The demolition energy calculator is to calculate the amount of energy “needed to raze, load, and haul away construction materials.”

Convert energy to gasoline, figure out BTU usage…http://www.thegreenestbuilding.org/ is fascinating.

DISTRESSED INVESTMENT PROPERTY SOLUTIONS

DISTRESSED INVESTMENT PROPERTY SOLUTIONS

By Jodi Summers

Experts in net lease properties and 1031 exchanges say there may be ways to soften the blow of distressed situations, including the tax consequences of foreclosures.

“The biggest challenge is certainly the current market environment, which has so many investors fearful and sitting on the sidelines,” said Ed McRedmond, senior vice president of portfolio strategies for Invesco PowerShares.

Advisory groups such as BRC Advisors, Calkain Opportunity Services, Net Lease Capital Advisors and ES Group LLC have experience structuring exchanges for investors who face losing a property to foreclosure. A good advisor can minimize the tax bill and put the distressed property owner into a new investment.

If an owner is proactive in pursuing a remediation strategy before they are foreclosed on, advises Carl Christensen, managing director of Net Lease Capital Advisors, “They can deed their property back to their lender through a qualified intermediary and do a 1031 exchange into a new investment.”

There are a significant amount of potential replacement triple-net properties that are primarily leased to investment-grade tenants and typically highly leveraged, says Christensen. Though it depends on the financial and tax particulars of each case, putting equity into the new investment can be considerably less costly than paying the capital gains–which, since a foreclosure is considered a sale, includes the discharge of debt above the owner’s basis–and depreciation recapture tax bill, he adds.

“They’re facing a 20% to 25% tax problem. But you can solve that problem for 7% to 13% [equity] and have the benefit of owning your own real estate and saving money,” says Christensen. “The downside is they have to come out of pocket for the cash, because there is no equity in the property in this particular scenario, but what they have to come out of pocket for to buy the replacement property is significantly less than what they’d have to come out of pocket for to pay the IRS.”

Even in difficult situations such as foreclosures, there are options that can help, agrees Calkain president and CEO Jonathan Hipp. “The last thing you want to do is not be smart about your options. Don’t just assume that you’re dead in the water,” he says. “It’s about good tax planning and trying to be ahead of the bus.”

Beyond foreclosures, the strategy could also be applicable to forced-sale situations, when owners can’t put additional equity into a property when refinancing (at today’s lower leverage standards) is necessary and thus are forced to sell at a lower price than what they paid for the property.

“Those folks will have a little bit of equity, they won’t be totally upside down,” says Christensen. “This kind of solution is beautiful for them, because they won’t have to dump more money in to preserve their tax position.”

http://www.globest.com/news/1346_1346/insider/176880-1.html

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10448393/1/new-property-fund-meets-distressed-market.html

flickr.com/photos/ivanilluuu/221910373/

http://www.serious-collector.com/images/swimming_e2es.jpg

http://www.calkain.com/images/CC_logo.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/BRCAdvisors/bRCAdvisors_smlogo.jpg

BUILDINGGREEN’S TOP 10 GREEN CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS

BUILDINGGREEN’S TOP 10 GREEN CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS

BuildingGreen, is offering its seventh annual list of its top 10 green building products.

Half of the products on the annual have been deemed green because they are made from natural or rapidly renewable materials or agricultural waste. Such products require significantly less energy to manufacture.

And this year’s Top 10 Green Building products are:

Resource Monitor by Agilewaves

http://www.agilewaves.com/products.html

Developed by former NASA engineers, Agilewaves’ flagship product constantly monitors electric, gas and water use and provides accurate consumption and carbon footprint information in real-time, from any web enabled device, from anywhere in the world.

Compacted Earth Brick by Integrity Block

http://www.integrityblock.com/product_line.php

A seamless green replacement for conventional concrete block (CMU), as Inegrity Block products come in a variety of common form factors and sizes. Integrity Block products also meet relevant ASTM (C-90) performance standards for load bearing CMU.

Natura Paint by Benjamin Moore

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/bmpsweb/portals/bmps.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=fh_aura_hiddenPage&NodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F574014

Natura premium interior waterborne paint is a zero VOC, virtually odorless formula that doesn’t compromise on performance. It dries fast, has excellent adhesion and provides a durable finish with an unlimited color selection. Natura features our Green Promise designation, so you can breathe easy knowing that you’ve used the very best for your environmentally sensitive projects.

Matrix Total Home System by NTI

http://www.ntimatrix.com/

For our planet and our children, NTI has spent almost 10 years developing, testing and perfecting the technology of The Matrix to deliver a premium system that incorporates a Condensing Water Heater, Condensing Furnace, Condensing Boiler and Heat Recovery Ventilator, and which is already pre-wired for air conditioning. All of these functions are contained in one powerful system that requires less energy to operate than competing products.

Safe N’ Sound Emerald Doors by Masonite

http://www.masonite.com/product_newProducts.php

Masonite’s Safe‘N Sound® is said to be a door that is truly environmentally responsible. Manufactured with DorCor™, a low density fiberboard made from wheat straw, an annually renewable agricultural wheat by-product with a formaldehyde-free synthetic resin.

Natural Fiber Fabrics by O Ecotextiles

http://www.oecotextiles.com/

You can have an immense impact on lightening your environmental footprint by the textile choices you make.

Plyboo by Smith & Fong

http://www.plyboo.com/

Plyboo bamboo flooring and plywood products offer endless possibilities for architects and interior designers, whether the focus is on green building or cutting-edge design.

H2OG by Rainwater HOG

http://rainwaterhog.com/

The rainwater from your roof is a valuable commodity: use Rainwater HOG modular tanks to catch and store your rainwater for reuse on your garden and even in your house. Irrigate with it, hose with it, even shower with it!

SunCache Solar Water Heating System by Harpiris Energy

http://www.harpiris.com/whatissuncache.html

SunCache is an inexpensive solar water heating (SWH) system for residential applications in Sunbelt locations which pre-heats cold water before it enters a conventional backup water heater.

PolyWhey Floor Finish by Vermont Natural Coatings

http://www.vermontnaturalcoatings.com/VNCFloor.html

A clear, durable, topcoat seal for new bare wood flooring or previously stained wood floors. Available in semi-gloss and satin finishes.

“Our selections of the Top 10 Green Building Products represent a wide range of product types in many different application areas,” says BuildingGreen president Alex Wilson.

The Top 10 Green Products list has become a yearly ritual in which the Vermont publisher recognizes the most exciting products drawn from the more than 200 products added to its GreenSpec Directory in the last year.

An appearance on BuildingGreen’s list is seen by many in the industry as a significant event, as the company’s endorsement signals that a product is legitimately sustainable. “New products seem to be appearing all the time, making it a challenge for our staff to keep up,” Wilson says.

This year’s list includes the very first Forest Stewardship Council-certified and formaldehyde-free bamboo flooring, doors made with wheat-straw particleboard, a transparent finish produced from a byproduct of cheese making, and a compressed-earth masonry block. Three of the remaining products save energy, including a low-cost, solar water-heating system; a combination heating, water heating, and heat-recovery ventilation system; and a system for monitoring real-time energy (and water) use in buildings.

More info -

http://www.builderonline.com/green-products/buildinggreen-names-top-10-green-products-for-08.aspx?cid=BLDR081215003

2009 IS ABOUT HOW TO GO GREEN ON YOUR MULTIUNITS

2009 IS ABOUT HOW TO GO GREEN ON YOUR MULTIUNITS 

In 2009, the U.S. Green Building Council (http://www.usgbc.org) plans to focus on why homeowners and multiunit property owners should go green.

“The message is…why to go green and how to go green,” confirms Nate Kredich, USGBC’s vice president of residential market development.

In 2009, the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit plans to collaborate with local green home building programs and select 20 to 25 local home builder associations across the country to spread the green message.

Already the USGBC has successfully organized initiatives in New Mexico and Texas. Also in the first quarter of ‘09, USGBC expects to offer training courses to certify LEED for Homes accredited professionals.

Some statistics…since January 2008, 1,028 homes have received LEED for Homes certification with an additional 3,261 homes registered and awaiting certification. Notably, 45 percent of the certified units, which includes both single-family and multifamily homes, are affordable. Santa Monica’s Colorado Court is a fine example of green affordable housing.

USGBC also launched its REGREEN initiative, which includes guidelines for greening renovation projects. These guidelines are available
for free download online @ www.regreenprogram.org.

Sustainable development is also catching on in the multifamily sector,
“Multifamily is a market that knows LEED already as they have participated in the new construction program,” Kredich says. “They are starting to look at LEED for Homes as another option.”

The USGBC recently launched a new mid-rise test pilot initiative. The program will certify four- to six-story buildings that previously received certification
under the LEED for Homes initiative.

LEED for Homes Certification Breakdown
Certified: 24%
Silver: 40%
Gold: 22%
Platinum: 15%

Info courtesy of

http://www.ecohomemagazine.com/news/us-green-building-council-unveils-2009-plans.aspx

http://www.nahb.org/builderremodelerdirectory

http://www.car.org/newsstand/crem/current-issue/october2008/235686/