GREENSBORO, NC – KMW Builders’ recent recognition as a 2011 Green Partner of the Year didn’t come without hard work. The green certification process for Carden Place in Mebane, N.C., and The Arbors in Jacksonville, N.C., began more than a year before project completion and required multiple inspections in multiple categories of property development.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center administers and regulates these standards. No other green certification program has more stringent requirements than NAHB.
About the Award
KMW Builders completed 420 total units (18 buildings) to the certification level of Silver under the National Green Building Standard. NAHB presents awards across four levels, from Bronze to Emerald, depending on environmentally friendly features offered.
According to NAHB Director of Communications Anne Holtz Schmick, KMW achieved “the greatest number of multifamily units certified Silver from one builder.”
KMW Builders’ multifamily buildings met rigorous criteria in six categories:
- Lot and Site Development
- Resource Efficiency
- Energy Efficiency
- Water Efficiency
- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Homeowner Education
About the Process and Features
KMW leadership purposefully pursued this honor as a way to stand out in the marketplace while protecting the environment.
“We had to know we wanted to do this in order to do it well,” said Kevin Sasser, KMW Project Manager. “Steve Armstrong from Environmental Solutions Group recommended it, and we decided to pursue it as an added value for property owners and residents.”
Armstrong knows a bit about environmentally friendly building standards. As Senior Energy Analyst and Vice President of Operations for the Energy Division at ESG, Steve counseled KMW through the detailed auditing process.
“We spent a lot of time with KMW up front, making sure they were ready to begin the certification process,” said Armstrong. “One mistake gets big really fast. My job was to catch them early.”
Preparation gave way to an extensive inspection process.
“We have a 16-page checklist for the auditing process,” said Armstrong. “We also have three inspections at various times during the build: after framing, after insulation and at project completion.”
Inspections review green features, from material origination and handling to indoor air quality, site use and water use. Key green features include:
- the use of local resources
- protection and handling of materials on-site
- careful vetting of manufacturing processes for all materials
- insulation quality
- fresh air ventilation
- EnergyStar certification
- WaterSense implementation
- homeowner education
“KMW Builders uses better-than-average features and always handles the property with the environment in mind,” said Armstrong. “Green certification was a natural next step, and KMW did a stellar job. They worked hard to comply and went over and above the minimum requirements.”
KMW President John Kavanagh recognizes the value of this involved process for sustainable homes: “KMW’s energy-efficient buildings show our concern for the environment but also make life more comfortable and healthy for residents of these large multifamily complexes while increasing property value for owners.”
About KMW Builders
KMW Builders is a full-service contractor based in Greensboro, N.C., delivering end-to-end construction projects on time and on budget. Led by industry professionals and backed by Weaver Investment, KMW builds projects across a range of industries, including affordable housing, senior living, multifamily, up-fits and rehabs. For more information about KMW Builders’ range of services and environmentally friendly building projects, visit www.kmwbuilders.com.
About the NAHB Research Center Green Partner Program
Since the National Green Building Standard became the first and only residential green building rating system to be approved by the American National Standards Institute in January 2009, the NAHB Research Center has certified nearly 2,600 single-family homes, over 140 multifamily buildings representing nearly 4,700 apartments, and 17 residential land developments representing close to 1,000 lots.