GreenPoint Rated - A new green building standard for the California Market

A GreenPoint Rated home is graded on five categories:

* Energy Efficiency
* Resource Conservation
* Indoor Air Quality
* Water Conservation
* Community

If the home meets minimum point requirements in each category and scores at least 50 points, it earns the right to bear the GreenPoint Rated label. It also provides a numerical score, which allows buyers to evaluate and compare the environmental performance of different homes. Because GreenPoint Rated homes are evaluated by independent, certified raters, building professionals and homeowners can feel confident that the rating has integrity and value.

Newly constructed single-family homes (custom and production) and multifamily homes in California are currently eligible for participation. GreenPoint Rated for remodeling and existing homes is under development and is expected to be rolled out in the first quarter of 2008.

GreenPoint Rated has been endorsed by the Northern California Association of Home Builders (HBANC) and in addition HBANC has endorsed the adoption of mandatory green building ordinances in their 14 county service area. GreenPoint Rated is being incorporated in the green building ordinances of many California cities including San Francisco, San Jose, Sant Rosa and dozens of other cities.

GreenPoint Rated is a program of Build It Green, a professional non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote healthy, energy- and resource-efficient buildings in California.