If you are remotely interested in doing work with the federal government, we have perhaps our best line up of speakers ever at an MBI event. In addition to the Director of Military Programs for the USACE, we have Three-star General Paul Carlton, Director, Office of Homeland Security at Texas A&M University Health Science Center. He will be speaking about the vast opportunities for modular overseas. The Director of the Impact Aid Program, Partners from two of DC's top law firms discussing com… Continue

This year’s most innovative green building solutions are announced by the GREEN LOG Awards. These products and services are set to thrust the building industry into the future.

Green Log Awards Inc. announces the results of this year’s GREEN LOG Home Awards contest. Winners were chosen from 14 home building categories based on their innovation, usability, impact to the environment, and enhancement to the home. Categories include… Continue

As we are all aware, the current housing market has been challenging, to say the least. The publishing industry is in the midst of one of its toughest years in history as well, so here at Home Buyer Publications, we are feeling it on both fronts. After a very careful review and exploration of all channels, we have decided to suspend publication of Building Systems Magazine. This was a very difficult decision for us to make, since we believe that systems built housing and its inherent “gre… Continue

Epoch Homes (Pembroke, NH) is one modular home manufacturer that has gotten into the green home building business in the Northeast in a big way. Recently, architect John Rossi and partner Quincy Vale, owners of Powerhouse Enterprises, saw a need for a quick, green solution for a small office, weekend home, starter-house or bachelor pad. They created the PowerPod, a self-contained modular green building with about 500 sq.ft. of living space.… Continue

The big news at the 2009 International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas this past January, was NAHB’s National Green Building Standard was approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The National Green Building Standard applies to all residential construction work, including single-family homes, apartments and condos, land development and remodeling and renovation. The approval signals a new era for the nation’s builders, remodelers and developers and also provides an extra me… Continue

As the nation’s home builders embrace green building in growing numbers, industry research indicates that even the most aggressive efficiency goals for new homes won’t make a dent in overall energy consumption. Indeed, remodeling and retrofitting the nation’s older homes is by far the more efficient solution, industry experts say. That is why launching a green remodeling business could be a smart move for contractors searching for ways to stay afloat in this new housing economy. This means that… Continue

Builders Tim Holk and Martha Braustein found success by concentrating on historic designs, crafting homes that looked like they have graced the landscape for hundreds of years. One of their recent completions is the perfect example of old world charm combined with a state-of-the-art sustainable design. “We learned a lot about building on this project,” recalls Tim Holk, partner with Martha Braustein in Columbia County Historic Homes (North Chatham, NY). “Much of the lessons came from the owners,… Continue

Scott Homes (Olympia, WA) earned the 2009 EnergyValue Housing Awards (EVHA) "Builder of the Year" from the NAHB Research Center, a subsidiary of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The EVHA, presented in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), are the nation's preeminent energy efficiency awards honoring… Continue

Unless prospects understand how these amenities will improve their lives, they will be reluctant to pay for them. So how do you communicate their advantages to buyers who are confused by what constitutes quality construction? How do you get buyers excited about—and willing to pay for—esoteric subjects such as energy efficiency, good indoor quality and less maintenance? How do you accomplish those formidable tasks without talking down to buyers or making them feel stupid? (A sure way to kill a sa… Continue

With the conventional home building industry in free fall, you’ve suddenly decided to jump on the green building bandwagon. You want to differentiate yourself as a builder, embrace eco-friendly tactics and build high-performance homes. And you want to do all this while switching from site building to a building system to keep your staffing lean. Wonderful! But before you simply assemble a laundry list of sustainable building materials for your clients to choose from, take a long look at the home… Continue