• Complete Survey Results

HBA asks its members: What can the Building Green Council do for you?

By Phil Damiano, NW Natural and BGC and Steering Committee member

The HBA is very excited about the newly formed Building Green Council, which has already attracted more than 50 members in its first few months of existence.

One of the council’s first tasks was to establish what HBA members know about green building and what services they would like the council to provide. That task is now completed thanks to a survey sponsored and conducted by NW Natural. The real thanks, however, must go to the 236 of you who took the time to respond to the survey request. 

Survey Highlights

• The majority of members believe they understand at least some of the concepts involved in building green. 
• There are misconceptions in both the definition and scope of the green process that need to be clarified and made consistent within the industry. 
• Although respondents see green building as a good thing, green building itself is not clearly understood by either the public or the HBA membership.
• Green building hasn’t proven itself worthwhile enough to motivate builders or the consumer to act.
• The added cost involved and increased work associated with getting a home certified green currently does not seem worth the effort, especially if consumers don’t know how they’re benefiting either themselves or their environment.
• The vast majority of HBA members believe that green building is NOT a fad and is here to stay. 
• Few believe green building practices should be mandated. Instead, respondents want to see such activities encouraged through subsidies, rebates and tax credits – suggestions that would lead to reducing the cost of building green.
• Sustainability does not appear to be a high priority for HBA members in their own businesses.
• Most feel the Building Green Council can benefit the HBA membership and the public alike by providing education through a continuing series on green practices, roundtable discussions and green built home tours and by providing printed materials on various green concepts.
• Equally important is the council’s role to make green concepts more consistent within the industry as well as with the general public. The council should play a major role in raising the awareness level of green products and green practices to consumers.
• Respondents are eager to see the council provide cost-saving approaches to building green, illustrating the benefits not only to the environment but to their bottom line.  

As you can see, the survey results have provided some great insights into what we know, think we know or admittedly don’t know about green building. I have complete confidence that the information will be analyzed extensively by the Build Green Council as they chart their course for 2009 and beyond. 

If you are interested in becoming part of the Build Green Council, or serving on the council steering committee, please contact Nancy Haskin at nancyh@hbapdx.org or 503-684-1880.