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Lowering the Cost of Building Green Without Lowering Quality
By: Charles P. Schneider, President - Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Source: Builder Sourcing Corporation

Can a builder lower the cost of Building Green without lowering quality? The answer is simply “Yes.” How? By joining a buying group for homebuilders such as the one managed by Builder Sourcing.

Builder Sourcing has been quietly building its national buying group and is now the largest of its type in the country. Our Whole House Program™ provides the highest quality and broadest range of products available at the best possible value. This comprehensive program covers most of the major components of a home without changing a builder’s current building and business practices. Our builders save hundreds to thousands of dollars on every home they build.

We have established volume pricing and rebate and incentive programs with many of the nation’s top manufacturers and suppliers. Programs that were once available only to national builders are now available to our builder members. The Whole House Program™ is the most efficient and cost-effective way to manage costs — essential in these times of rising costs and important to builders committed to Building Green.

Who are some of the suppliers that are part of this group and are a key part of a builder’s Building Green efforts?

Boise Engineered Wood Products – Boise offers a number of products that not only efficiently use natural resources, they yield higher-quality structures by eliminating many of the problems associated with natural wood.

James Hardie fiber cement siding – James Hardie’s alternative to hardboard or wood siding conserves scarce natural resources and creates a low-maintenance, fire-resistant product for homeowners. And, for builder members, the siding is no more expensive than the natural-resource-intensive alternatives.

Trex composite decking – Trex’s alternative to wood decking also conserves natural resources and creates a low-maintenance, attractive product for use over long periods of time.

Lennox heating and air conditioning systems – Lennox technology is important to achieving Green Building standards with the increase in SEER requirements and overall air quality standards.

Atrium low-E aluminum and vinyl windows – Atrium products are a key part of achieving overall home energy efficiency and minimizing air infiltration.

Sherwin-Williams paint – Sherwin-Williams offers paint products with little or no VOC emissions.

Mohawk carpet – Mohawk offers a line of carpet made entirely from recycled materials.

Builder Sourcing’s buying group is an amazing display of collaboration between major suppliers and builders across the country, all aimed at improving results for both groups. Builders will tell you that they joined the buying group to save money. But most did not expect they would end up building better homes — and building stronger relationships with their suppliers.

Charles Schneider is president and founder of Builder Sourcing Corporation, a national buying group for homebuilders and select, high-quality suppliers. Before forming Builder Sourcing, Schneider was responsible for purchasing and the design center business at MDC Holdings/Richmond American Homes. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Builder Sourcing can be found at 877.367.2010, info@buildersourcing.comand www.buildersourcing.com.

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