IDEAL HOMES ANNOUNCE GOLD-CERTIFIED GREEN HOME

publication date: Nov 5, 2008

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. 27 -- Ideal Homes touts Oklahoma's first gold-level Green Certified Home. The home meets Model Green Building Guidelines developed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and is endorsed by the Oklahoma State Home Builders Association. Ideal's Green Home is located in Valencia, the company's master planned community in North Oklahoma City.

According to the NAHB Research Center, fewer than 50 certified green homes have been built across the nation since NAHB rolled out the program at the International Builders Show in February. Only 17 of those homes have achieved gold-level certification.

The guidelines, which allow for regional differences, define which green practices can be incorporated into residential development and construction on a national scale and how homeowners can operate and maintain their green homes.

Todd Booze, Ideal's president of construction, listed seven guiding principles of green building:

1. Lot design, preparation and development
2. Resource efficiency
3. Energy efficiency
4. Water efficiency
5. Indoor environmental quality
6. Operation, maintenance and homeowner education
7. Global impact

To achieve green certification, homes must earn a minimum number of points in each area, as well as extra points to reach bronze, silver and gold certification levels. Ideal's gold-level certification is the highest level a home can achieve.

Every home Ideal builds includes energy-conservation measures such as high-performance heating and air conditioning systems with integrated fresh-air circulation, low-emissivity vinyl windows, radiant roof sheathing and high-performance blown-in insulation in walls and ceilings and foundational perimeter insulation.

Ideal's gold-level certified green home is equipped for a CNG refueling station. By adding the equipment of choice, the homeowner can refuel CNG vehicles at home.

The NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines are the basis for the upcoming National Green Building Standard, which is currently undergoing ANSI review. The new standard will be the benchmark for green home certification and will bring uniformity to sustainable home building practices.