Green Building

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Enviro Board represents one of the breakthrough technologies available to builders who want to build green and maximize both economic and environmental performance. Enviro Board's low-cost panels, made from totally recycled content, enhance scoring in accordance with green building practices and provide various economic incentives to the builder.

Under the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) program, the nationally accepted standard for green building developed by the US Green Building Council, a full point is gained for employing a bio-based building material, such as Enviro Board. However, Enviro Board will earn builders up to ten more points if an overall 42% efficiency gain is achieved over conventional building materials, a milestone well within reach given Enviro Board's excellent thermal efficiency characteristics. While the primary focus for green building in most city and state ordinances is on publicly funded buildings, some governmental entities are issuing regulations aimed at the private sector as well. Examples include fast-track building permit incentives and a reduction in the cost of building permit fees or allowing development in higher-density sites for commercial projects or providing grant programs or interest free or low-interest rate loans for private contractors who use the LEED® program. In addition, some municipalities offer rebates from utilities companies or construction tax rebates for including affordable housing units into their projects.

As compiled by US Green Building Council information, various LEED® initiatives are found in 25 states, 48 cities, eight counties and 33 school districts. Many of the major metropolitan areas throughout the US have adopted green building policies in publicly funded buildings. Seattle was the first city to do so in 2002; Salt Lake City adopted a new ordinance in early November 2006, which requires private developers to build green and will provide expedited review of plans and cheaper fees. Enviro Board qualifies for a growing number of state, federal and local green building tax and market incentives. These incentives are already earning developers millions in write-offs and saving homeowners millions more through energy conservation. The attached table provides an overview by state of the various tax incentives available for green building.

In addition, there is a movement underway within federal agencies to purchase bio-based products. For example, under the USDA's Green Purchasing Affirmative Procurement Program (GPAPP), department-wide guidelines have been established for green purchasing programs that encompass the purchasing and use of products, such as Enviro Board. Nine other federal agencies have adopted green purchasing programs. Those include NASA, DOD, DOE, GSA, EPA and others.

For further information on various tax incentives for builders, please refer to the following websites: www.usgbc.org; www.dsireusa.org www.irs.gov.