Great News from Delaware General Assembly!

The Delaware 146th General Assembly recessed on Wednesday June 30, 2011 for the year.

A highlight came on June 28, 2011 when the HBADE represented by Mark Grahne, Steve Bomberger and Fred Fortunato were recognized on the floor of the House as House Concurrent Resolution #24 sponsored by Representative Brady was passed. This Resolution Recognizes and Proclaims June as "New Homes Month".

In addition, the Delaware Green for Green Program received additional funds to extend it through 2012 and hopefully into 2013 with an additional $500,000 set aside for rebates for homebuyers of Green certified Homes!

Congrats Mark, Steve and Fred! And thank you Jen Casey for your advocacy to help Delaware provide this successful funding for such a wonderful program! Of course it goes without saying we thank our State officials to provide the funding!

Happy Fourth of July to all!

Schell Brothers Unveils New Systems for Home Comfort

Schell Brothers Homebuilders held the EXPOsure event this past Saturday at their Independence Hall in Millsboro.

The event showcased introduction of the new Schellter advanced building science construction program and all it's component parts. It gave the 200-300 attendees a behind-the-walls view of the systems related to advanced framing, insulation, air sealing, tankless water heaters, and much more. We were happy to be there to talk with the attendees about the NGBS green certification program, and of course the Green for Green $3,000 homebuyer rebates.

It was a great day, the prospects were fun to talk with, and the Schell staff were enthusiastically courteous. We look forward to participating next time they hold this event.

Roesville's First Green for Green Success!

Yesterday, Mr. and Mrs. Moran, formerly of New York, received their ceremonial $3,000 rebate as the first recipient at Roesville of the new DNREC/SEU Green for Green program! Because J.S. Hovnanian and Sons built and delivered the home in Felton, Delaware that earned Silver Certification from the National Green Building Certification Program, Mr and Mrs Moran received the rebate!


Pictured from left includes Jim McCulley, Principal of LandmarkJCM; Howard Fortunato representing the Green Accredited Verifiers at LandmarkJCM and the HBADE Green Building Council; Don Yoos of J.S. Hovnanian & Sons; Mr & Mrs. Mr. & Mrs. Moran; Tammy Quiroz, Sales Manager at Roesville; and Jen Casey, EVP of Home Builders Assn of De.


We hope more buyers continue to buy homes and obtain their energy efficient, certified green homes - plus a rebate! Info at http://www.degreen4green.com/

Delaware Green for Green Picking Up Speed

Having launched only 5 months ago, the Delaware Green for Green homebuyer rebate program is really picking up speed. The initial $300,000 allocation of total rebate money, available to buyers of new-construction certified green homes in Delaware, is nearly one-third gone. Between actual paid rebates, pending applications and approved rebates awaiting settlement, nearly $100,000 has been committed/earmarked or paid. The word is spreading as new home buyers are being rewarded for buying green, energy efficient homes while assisting the local housing economy. The program was put together as a joint effort between the Home Builders Association of Delaware, DNREC, and the Delaware SEU.

Thus far, ALL of the participating homes in the program are receiving certification under the National Green Building Certification Program, the only national green building rating program to be consensus approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Builders interested in selling more homes or buyers wanting to learn how and where to buy a new green certified home can email Howard Fortunato at howardf@landmarkjcm.com

Green for Green, More Press

The Nations Building News features an article about the Delaware Green for Green Program. Howard Fortunato, Green Building Professional with LandmarkJCM and President of the Green Building Council is quoted.

This is a great program for Delaware and will help stimulate new home sales in the absence of the Federal Tax Credit.

See the article here: http://www.nbnnews.com/NBN/issues/2010-07-12/Green+Building/index.html

Announcement of Green for Green

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today congratulated the Home Builders Association of Delaware and state officials on the creation of a program that offers cash incentives for building homes certified by the NAHB Research Center to the National Green Building Standard.

“This is significant news for home buyers in the First State,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Jones, a home builder and developer in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. “These incentives help bring green homes down to a more competitive price point, and that’s especially important for today’s consumer.”

Delaware Green for Green is a partnership between home builders and the state Department of Natural Resources of Environmental Control. The rebates range from $3,000 for homes built to the Silver level of the standard to $5,000 for Gold and $6,000 for the Emerald level.

The incentives are structured to reflect the progressively more strict requirements of the standard: For example, homes built to the Emerald level are built to be 60 percent more energy efficient than homes built to prevailing building codes.

All homes must be independently verified and then certified by the NAHB Research Center. Additional information and participation requirements are at www.degreen4green.com.

“In partnership with our state’s leaders, Delaware builders continue to lead the nation in using green building technology and building energy-efficient homes,” said HBA president Mark Grahne of Atlantic Homes. “Our members have built more green homes per capita than any other state. Delaware is a small state but we have a big agenda: We want to spur demand for energy-efficient homes, thereby increasing jobs while reducing our carbon footprint. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

NAHB Research Center President Mike Luzier said the Delaware program is another indication of the strength of the National Green Building Standard, the first residential green building rating system to be certified by the American National Standards Institute.

“While Delaware Green for Green applies to new home construction, the standard can also be used to score, verify and certify remodeling projects and residential developments. Because of its flexibility, ease of use, and the strength of the third-party certification, the National Green Building Standard makes sustainable construction accessible to the mainstream home buyer,” Luzier pointed out.

In addition to energy efficiency, the standard scores and rates new homes for resource and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and lot and site development. A homeowner’s manual is also mandatory under the standard to help ensure the home is maintained and operated to best reap the advantages of the home’s green features.

“I’m very encouraged that other states are looking to this new Delaware program as an excellent example of an incentive program with clear environmental and economic outcomes,” Jones said.

“This is also a case study for what makes a successful public-private partnership: In this case, the state’s home builders, environmental officials, and the third-party NAHB Research Center. Delaware Green for Green is poised to be a home run,” Jones said.

For more information on the program and for home verification, contact Howard Fortunato at LandmarkJCM