Pardee Homes announced that its new Los Angeles County neighborhoods have qualified for the California Green Builder (CGB) designation, including houses in the builder’s Santa Clarita master-planned community of Fair Oaks Ranch.As certified by independent inspectors, CGB-compliant homes exceed California’s Title 24 energy requirements, the most stringent in the nation, by at least 15%. CGB standards also include diverting at least 50% of construction and jobsite waste; reducing water use by at least 20,000 gallons annually compared to contemporary non-green homes; and using lumber efficiently.

“CGB’s energy savings measures alone are a real plus for homeowners because they can translate to lower home operating costs,” said Joyce Mason, vice president of marketing for Pardee Homes.

CGB water-conserving measures include low-flow plumbing fittings and fixtures and water-saving landscaping and irrigation or enrollment in the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s California Friendly water conservation program. CGB builders also utilize lumber and wood products certified by organizations such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the American Tree Farm System (ATFS).

Furthermore, CGB criteria promote better indoor air quality through advanced HVAC systems and filters and the use of low-VOC paints and materials.

Independent third-party inspections and diagnostics of energy features verify a builder’s CGB compliance. “CGB inspections and diagnostics can also tell us where and how we may need to make corrections,” said Mason.