More builders of apartments and condominiums are
putting energy-efficient and sustainable products into their projects.
More apartment and condominium builders are putting energy-efficient
and sustainable products into their projects, according to a new National
Association of Home Builders survey.
The association polled
builders nationwide on their green-building habits.
"Apartments and condos
are inherently green, because they offer more compact development to begin
with," said Steve Patterson, chairman of NAHB's Multifamily Leadership
Board and an apartment and condo developer from Orlando, Fla. "With
today's heightened consumer interest in green, multifamily builders are
embracing more green and recyclable products, and are more willing to invest in
energy efficiency."
And consumers are willing to
pay to be green - at least a little. Seventy-four percent of those who
responded to the survey said buyers and renters are willing to pay extra for apartments and condos with green amenities. However, the premium they’re willing to accept is
only about 2 percent.
Nevertheless, 89 percent of
those surveyed are putting in energy-efficient appliances and lighting
products.
Among the other
findings:
79 percent are installing
windows with “low-E” glass.
64 percent are using
recycled or recyclable products.
50 percent are using much
more insulation than state building codes require. That rises to 70 percent for
builders who work on the West Coast.
