WASHINGTON - The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) invites home builders, remodelers, developers, nonprofits, academics, industry experts, and others involved in green building efforts to submit entries for the 2005 National Green Building Awards. The awards recognize individuals, companies, and organizations that demonstrate a commitment to the ideals of green home building. Winners will be announced at the 2005 National Green Building Conference in Atlanta, March 13-15.

"The industry's best and the brightest will have a chance to show how their green home building efforts have true market value for consumers and a positive impact on the environment," said Eric S. Borsting, chairman of the 2005 NAHB National Green Building Conference and NAHB's Energy Subcommittee. "Winners of these awards are an inspiration to those in the growing green building movement, which has constructed more than 40,000 resource-efficient, environmentally sensitive homes since the 1970s."

Entrants for the 2005 National Green Building Awards are eligible to compete in the following categories:

Green Advocate of the Year - Recognizes leaders (builders, groups, and individuals) whose efforts have resulted in significant change in the field of resource-efficient new home construction over the past year;

Green Program of the Year - Acknowledges home builder associations, municipal governments, and other institutions for new (less than three years old) and existing (more than three years old) green building programs;

Green Project of the Year - Single-Family - Recognizes companies that incorporate green design and construction methods into attached, detached (affordable and production), and custom-built/luxury homes;

Green Project of the Year - Multifamily - Honors companies that develop affordable housing and luxury condos/apartments that use green design and construction practices;

Green Project of the Year - Remodeling - Acknowledges companies that modify and improve existing homes (projects valued at more and less than $100,000) using water conservation methods, ventilation systems, energy efficient products, and other green techniques; and

Outstanding Green Marketing Award - Recognizes companies for the sales and marketing campaign of a product and housing development that best advances the ideals of environmentally friendly, resource-efficient residential construction.

Past award recipients have included Southface Energy Institute, a nonprofit association that has certified more than 1,000 green homes through its EarthCraft House Program, and Pardee Homes, a production home builder committed to Energy Star requirements as a minimum energy-efficiency standard for all its new homes.

Information about the awards and applications can be found on NAHB's Web site at www.nahb.org/greenbuildingawards. Entries must be received by Dec. 15, 2004.

Publication date: 09/13/2004