Why Build Green


The team at Urban Northwest Homes, LLC has been building exemplary communities in the greater Portland/Vancouver area for over two decades. Responsive image Responsive image

Green Homes Are...

Urban NM Homes - Builder of the year
  • Healthier
  • More Durable
  • Better For Environment
  • Cost Less to Operate

About The Founder

As a national leader in building sciences, founder Troy Johns has been on the Washington DC based Home Innovations Research Labs since 2012. This earlier group created the first ever ANSI (American National Standards Institute) certified green building certification process known as NGBS, or the National Green Building Standard, of which Troy is now the Chairman. Troy's ultimate goal was to bring healthier homes to all market price points, and that is why every home built by Urban NW Homes, no matter its selling price, is proudly certified NGBS.

At Urban Northwest, we strive to build the most technologically advanced, energy efficient home available.

Quality starts with a well-designed plan. Before a foundation is poured, we ensure that the architecture, structural design, and engineering will create a superior final product. Our team has been building homes and neighborhoods for over 30 years and we take great pride in each and every one.

National Green Building Standard (NGBS)

The National Green Building Standard (NGBS) is the preeminent residential green building rating system. It sets baselines for residential construction, development, and remodeling projects. American National Standard (ANSI)-approved and consensus-based, the NGBS provides a menu of green building practices for builders, remodelers, and land developers to plan their green projects. These building practices, when employed in construction and development, improve the living environment for residents and reduce the project’s environmental impacts.

Learn About the NGBS Green Promise

Why should you consider buying an NGBS Home?

The NGBS verification process ensures that builders consider their impact in the following areas:

  • Lot Design, Preparation and Development Sustainability
  • Resource, Energy and Water Efficiency
  • Indoor Environmental Quality and Efficiency
  • Education to Improve Operations and Efficiency
  • Healthy, Sustainable Homes That Will Last a Lifetime

Your NGBS certified home will attain higher levels of energy efficiency resulting in progressively increased benefits to you and reduced environmental impacts. Plus, you will notice the difference in your pocketbook during the course of homeownership, and if you ever decide to sell, can appraise higher than our competitor’s homes.

NGBS’s mission to create healthier, sustainable, and durable homes has had a ripple effect throughout the entire building lifecycle. When Builders demand healthier products, with low VOCs and a lower carbon footprint, home construction materials improve dramatically.

The market is turning a corner – no longer are green products exceptional, as now they are expected.

What is a HERS Index Score?

The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index is the industry standard by which a home’s energy efficiency is measured. It’s also the nationally recognized system for inspecting and calculating a home’s energy performance.

A HERS Index Score identifies approximate annual home operation costs. Think about the Miles Per Gallon (MPG) on a new car. Lower ratings equal more efficient living due to lower energy and operating costs. Heating, cooling and water heating constitute the largest cost of homeownership outside of the mortgage loan. The HERS Index Score will tell you how well the home performs energy-wise and will outline the energy features of the home and the expected cost of utility bills.

How does the HERS Index work?

For example: A preexisting resale home with a HERS Index Score of 130 is 30% less energy efficient than the RESNET Reference Home. A new or renovated home with a HERS Index Score of 70 is 30% more energy efficient than the RESNET Reference Home.

At Urban Northwest Homes, LLC, we strive to build homes to a rating of 60 or lower, with our highest performing Net Zero Homes rated at 0.

This means that our homes are 40 or more percent more energy efficient than a standard built home. We are committed to green construction and the highest energy efficiency standards in the marketplace. Our Net Zero Home was a first for the region, and we are anticipating more in the near future.

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