There’s a difference between new home communities that claim to be sustainable or green, and those that are verified. Fortunately, there are organizations that help buyers make the distinction; for example, the California Certified Green Builder® program from Build It Green. As green building becomes more popular, homeowners and those purchasing homes are looking for contractors, architects, engineers, specialty contractors, and real estate professionals who are qualified to provide green building services. Those builders who wish to establish themselves as green builders can obtain this certification to set themselves apart from the rest.

One example of a company who chose to certify themselves as a California Certified Green Builder is Pardee Homes. The firm is currently developing a number of green communities, such as Laurel Park and Oak Crest in Santa Clarita. In fact, Pardee Homes has built 24 LivingSmart and 14 California Green Builder-certified neighborhoods to date.

How do they make green building look easy? The secret is that Pardee Homes has over a decade of green building experience. In fact, the company helped pioneer the EPA's Energy Star® program, and built first Energy Star® neighborhood, in 1998. That’s far longer than most green builders! Although companies can't turn back the clock on their development practices, it will be interesting to learn how many California builders with green homes for sale will follow in Pardee Homes' footsteps of being a leader in building green homes by taking part in California Certified Green Builder training.