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'Build Green' getting off ground San Antonio Express-News 04/13/2004 Ron Wilson A new program aimed at fostering the construction of "green-built" homes, benefiting the environment and saving energy and money, was unveiled Monday. The program will teach homebuilders to use environmentally friendly materials and techniques, said Linda Stone of the Metropolitan Partnership for Energy, a coalition of local governments and utilities. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said the need for such a program is apparent in the face of rising fuel prices. "I know homeowners want to know what the interest rate on their houses will be," Wolff said. "But they should be a heck of a lot more concerned about energy. They need to ask their developer what the energy costs for their home will be." "Building green" can mean locating homes near amenities and public transportation, taking advantage of both sun and shade, minimizing erosion, choosing recycled materials, conserving water inside and outside the home, installing efficient appliances and insulation, and ventilating properly. The program, which starts Wednesday, will include continuing education for builders, random inspections and certifications, said Mike Hollaway of Mike Hollaway Custom Homes. The Greater San Antonio Builders Association will conduct the classes. Certified builders will be able to advertise using the partnership's "build green" logo, Hollaway said. County Clerk Gerry Rickhoff said starting the program with new home construction makes sense, because it's a lot cheaper to build green than to retrofit energy efficiency into an older home. Later, the partnership will provide programs for retrofitting, Stone said. CPS Energy has a goal of conserving 600 megawatts of energy — enough to power 200,000 homes for a year — over the next decade, said Aurora Ortega-Geis, president of the utility's board of directors. Solar energy activist Bill Sinkin said there's a big need for the program. "Last year, about 11,000 homes were built in San Antonio," he said. "I'll bet fewer than 1 percent were solar." For more information, view the partnership's Web site at www.buildsagreen.org. |
