Going Green in the residential market

Even though the standard is a national document, it is not a mandatory requirement for contractors looking to build green. "It's not designed to be a requirement. The standard is meant to be used by the builder and developer that want to use it with the idea that they can then make a legitimate claim that the project has been built in accordance with a nationally recognized standard for green building. It's not intended to be mandated, though," Morrow says.

The standard is also not a certification system but a tool for contractors looking to build a legitimate green home. Nate Kredich, vice president of residential market development for USGBC, says USGBC was excited about the standard. "It will provide a positive, entry-level path for builders without prior green home building experience to incorporate more sustainable practices into their products," he says.