Who sets the standards and guidelines for green building?
There are two non-profit organizations that set the standards for green building construction and materials locally. One is Build It Green (www.builditgreen.org). Build It Green’s guidelines are the most commonly used for residential construction in the Northern California Bay Area. The U.S. Green Building Council’s (www.usgbc.gov) LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) specifications are nationally recognized standards that primarily focus on commercial construction. LEED for Home and LEED for Neighborhood Design are currently in their pilot phases. In addition to the above-mentioned organizations, the National Association of Home Builders (www.nahb.org) has established Model Green Home Building Guidelines, and they are working in conjunction with the International Code Council to create the nation’s first green residential building standard.
