San Antonio’s Residential Green Building Program Receives a Boost From the Builders Association

Build San Antonio Green, San Antonio’s Residential Green Building Program, is getting a boost from the Greater San Antonio Builders Association.

The Build San Antonio Green program, which was developed in 2002 as a joint initiative between The Metropolitan Partnership for Energy (MPE) and the Greater San Antonio Builders Association, is responsible for certifying that all San Antonio homes are built “green.” This program also raises awareness and educates builders and homeowners about the benefits of adopting energy-efficient building practices.

A New Commitment to Build San Antonio Green

In an effort to revitalize the program and show their commitment to green building, The Builders Association has recently joined the board of directors of MPE. As a board member, The Builders Association has agreed to promote an even greater awareness of their original program, Build San Antonio Green.

The program, thus far, has been a very successful one, with 158 certified green San Antonio homes being built in 2007 and several hundred more new homes due to get certification this year.

Build San Antonio Green promotes conservation and efficiency for San Antonio homes and was developed with input from various partners in the San Antonio area who offer local rebates for green building practices. MPE works alongside the building and development community to implement green building for San Antonio homes.

Build San Antonio Green Programs, Rebates and Initiatives

The partners of the Build San Antonio Green coalition include Bexar County, the City of San Antonio, CPS Energy, San Antonio Water System, Via Metropolitan Transit, the Alamo Area Council of Governments, Solar San Antonio and the Greater Bexar County Council of Cities.

Some of the many programs and incentives offered by the partners of Build San Antonio Green include rebates for solar water heaters, rebates for efficient, central air conditioning systems and central heat pump systems, solar initiative rebate program, free, water-efficient toilets, hot-water-on-demand system rebates, Watersaver Landscape rebates, free, programmable thermostats for qualifying customers, washing machine rebates and a variety of development incentives.

Programs Offered by MPE

The mission of MPE “is to protect and enhance quality of life by providing energy leadership, expertise and education, and by developing regionally cooperative programs for the wise, efficient and sustainable use of energy.”

MPE’s various programs, including Build San Antonio Green, are designed to benefit the environment, the economy and the welfare of the citizens of San Antonio. These include hosting technical workshops on energy efficiency, conservation, renewable energy and green building; working with their partners to implement programs for air quality improvement, water conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy; working with the building and development sector to find ways to implement green building; and providing incentives for green buildings with the help of legislators and insurance groups.

The Greater San Antonio Builders Association is a trade association that provides a platform for its members to showcase their products and services, and offers the community a directory of member profiles and products.