| The Home Builders Association of Northern California | | | | 130-unit housing development located in the city's |
| (HBANC) and the Oakland City Council President | | | | Central Station, the community exceeds the state |
| Ignacio De La Fuente, along with a group of | | | | building codes for energy efficiency and green building |
| environmentalists, met this week to discuss the city's | | | | measures currently in place. Zephyr Gate has even |
| first residential Green Building legislation. | | | | earned a certification from Build It Green's GreenPoint |
| Many are hopeful that the new legislation will have | | | | Rated system. |
| significant impacts on the city's goal of developing | | | | Build It Green, Alameda County-based organization |
| 14,000 new housing units by the year 2014. While | | | | dedicated to the promotion of green building and |
| others are grateful that the new legislation will have | | | | green building materials, is one proposed tools that |
| positive effects on the environment by reducing | | | | the City of Oakland would use under the new |
| greenhouse gas emissions - reportedly the equivalent | | | | ordinance. The GreenPoint Rated system would act |
| of taking 12,000 cars off the road. | | | | as a measure for new home developments to ensure |
| "The Home Builders Association of Northern California | | | | they meet the requirements for green construction. |
| is pleased to stand with Council President De La | | | | "At a time when rising gas prices and concerns about |
| Fuente in announcing this important ordinance," stated | | | | global warming are pushing consumers to change their |
| Joseph Perkins, president and CEO of the HBANC. | | | | behavior, building green makes good business sense," |
| "Building green is good for our environment, good for | | | | said Perkins. "Ensuring we have clear, flexible and |
| home builders, good for homebuyers and good for | | | | consistent green building standards like Build It Green's |
| our economy." | | | | GreenPoint Rated system will enable the home |
| One home builder's latest community, Pulte Homes' | | | | building industry to continue producing green homes |
| Zephyr Gate, is already built to comply with Oakland's | | | | that are affordable for Oakland's working families. |
| new Green Building Legislation. Zephyr Gate is a | | | | |