Mark Johnson Custom Homes Blog

When Jacksonville, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes tackled their first Green project, a LEED Platinum home in Wilmington, NC, they learned a very valuable lesson: although a client may not specifically ask for Green features, the features of a Green-built home are an obvious benefit. Every homeowner wants to save money on utility bills and live in a safe home to keep their families healthy and comfortable. Online for EcoHome’s Chief Editor Jean Dimeo interviewed Sam Raskin, the national director for Energy Star for Homes, on this very subject and the article was very insightful. Below is an excerpt and to read the complete article, click here!

“’You don’t know someone’s willingness to pay until you have the value proposition in hand,’ Raskin said. Energy Star for Homes provides builders a relatively easy way to offer buyers dwellings that are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC) and that include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20% to 30% more efficient than standard houses. But Energy Star-qualified houses are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to green building. That’s why EPA’s Climate Choice program seeks to accelerate market adoption of cutting-edge technologies.”