Several other nationwide public and private programs and initiatives, such as Building America, Zero-Energy House, Million Solar Roofs, and Scientific Certification Systems, peck at the issue from the periphery of both the supply and demand sides, as well.

And don’t discount the impact of the 35-plus local green building councils already operating, a few of which have launched since the release of NAHB’s guidelines, with the prospect of more coming on line. Nearly 50,000 homes nationwide have qualified under local green building standards similar to Austin’s in scope, content, and certification requirements since the turn of the century; the Built Green program for Seattle alone has certified more than 6,000 homes since its foundation six years ago.

This convergence means that J.D. Holt isn’t so alone after all in his pursuit to build sustainable homes. And while his approach to building his own home to achieve a five-star rating under the Austin Green Building program is appropriately market- and climate-specific (as all such guidelines should be), his checklist provides specific insight into the types and performance of products and materials that dealers should take to heart, or at least set on a burner to simmer until that critical mass comes along.

A Menu of Products To get the five-star rating for his house, Holt needed a minimum of 180 points, as calculated by the value attached to 132 green building options among six main categories listed in the Austin Green Building program guidelines. He got 204 points. Here’s how.

Basic Requirements. Every house that seeks certification under the Austin program must fulfill 16 basic requirements, among which there are few options. In addition to meeting the 2000 International Residential Code and the 2001 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), the house must employ cooling equipment with a minimum 13-SEER rating (among other cooling system standards), pleated media filters for the HVAC system, at least two indoor ceiling fans, low-VOC interior paints and coatings, and either an Energy Star–rated dishwasher or no such appliance at all; it also cannot have a vapor barrier installed on the inside face of the exterior walls or any unvented natural gas logs, fireplaces, or heating units.

Per the IECC, insulation must be properly installed (read: uncompressed in the cavities); the windows must be rated for a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.40 or less (either in their glazing or with screens); the ductwork must be sealed, insulated, and balanced; and all recessed lighting fixtures must be air-tight and insulated.

While typical pro-oriented dealers may not even stock most of the products or materials on the required list, much less their “greened” upgrades, and certainly have nominal influence over their proper installation or code compliance, such measures create a solid foundation for the categories and specifications that follow.

Energy. Energy efficiency is arguably the most mature category within green building guidelines, having evolved from the 1970s oil crisis to include a host of product choices and design options. In Austin, the energy category offers 47 line items alone; for Holt, the category earned him 92 of his total points. “I emphatically push for about six to 10 [items] that I think make good sense to achieve the energy savings criteria,” he says, including a thicker, better-insulated thermal shell, minimum 24-inch-deep roof overhangs that enable passive cooling, and placing the HVAC system (including ductwork) in conditioned space.

Among the choices in the energy category, each with a point value and most done in combination (at least for Holt’s house), the ones most relevant to a modern-day dealer include dual-paned, low-E windows that meet the SHGC standard; cool roofing materials such as tile or metal (Holt chose the latter); “total fill” insulation, such as damp-blown cellulose or sprayed foam; insulated window and door headers; continuous ridge and soffit vents; ceiling fans for all main rooms and bedrooms; and a roof radiant barrier.

Testing. This category requires builders to test the home for air leakage through the envelope and ducts, confirm a minimum level of supply air flow, and prove measures for controlling combustion gases. Holt passed the four-test trial with flying colors, collecting all 14 points available in the category.