USGBC Announces Recipients of 2009 LEED for Homes Awards

Washington, D.C., Dec. 8, 2009 – The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has named the recipients of its 2009 LEED for Homes Awards, recognizing housing projects and home builders who have demonstrated leadership in the residential building marketplace. The awards were presented during the Residential Summit on Friday, Nov. 13, during the 2009 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo held in Phoenix, Ariz. The 2009 award categories recognize innovative projects, production builders, single family projects, affordable housing projects, affordable developer, multifamily project and a commitment to LEED for Homes.

“This year’s winners have set themselves apart for exhibiting exceptional leadership within the residential community and for their steadfast commitment to green homebuilding,” said Nate Kredich, Vice President, Residential Market Development. “These innovators will help transform the market to more healthy, high performing homes that are regarded as some of the best in the country.”

This year’s Innovative Project award was given to the Platinum certified BrightBuild Barn project, the result of a two-year collaboration between Kaplan Thompson Architects, Bensonwoon Homes and a team of green building experts from around the Northeast. BrightBuilt Barn was recognized for implementing innovative strategies and techniques that go above and beyond the scope, requirements and prerequisites within the LEED for Homes rating system.

Pulte Homes was honored with the Outstanding Production Builder Award for its Villa Trieste project, located in Las Vegas, NV. Villa Trieste is planned to be a community of 185 LEED Platinum single family homes, which will place it firmly among the ranks of the largest LEED for Homes project to date. Pulte’s commitment to LEED Platinum certification for all homes in its Las Vegas division sets an example for excellence for builders and project teams across the country.

In the Outstanding Single Family Project category, Arbor South Architecture’s theSAGE home in Eugene, OR was recognized an as example of leadership in the green residential movement. theSAGE home earned 109 points in the LEED for Homes rating system, among the highest scores ever achieved.

Hunt Yates of Hunt Building Company received the award for Outstanding Commitment to LEED for Homes for its Keesler Air Force Base project in Biloxi, MS. Built by the Hunt Building Company and W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company, the project currently has 792 registered single family homes pursuing LEED for Homes certification.

Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity’s Hope Cross project was selected to receive the Outstanding Affordable Housing Project award. The project is a 59-acre affordable housing project, and once complete, will be the largest certified Habitat of Humanity Community in the U.S. Thanks to local partners and donations, residents of the project can expect a more than 50% reduction in monthly energy bills.

In the Outstanding Multifamily Project category, Wakeland Housing & Development Corporation’s Platinum certified Los Vecinos project in Chula Vista, CA was selected for its outstanding performance within the LEED for Homes rating system. The affordable housing project consists of 42 apartment units rented to families earning 60% or less of the area median income. With 90% of its energy generated onsite, the property is on average 39% more energy efficient than comparable properties following California energy efficiency standards.

The Columbia Housing Authority received the Outstanding Affordable Developer award for its Rosewood Hills project in Columbia, SC. Rosewood Hills features a diverse mix of apartments, townhomes, senior citizen housing and single family homes catering to a range of incomes.

This year’s LEED for Homes award winners were selected by the Residential Market Development team from among the dozens of nominations received from USGBC’s network of 38 LEED for Homes Provider organizations throughout the country.

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U.S. Green Building Council
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

With a community comprising 78 local affiliates, more than 20,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 133,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.

Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

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