The latest draft of the National Association of Home Builders’ new National Green Building Standard covers a lot of heavy topics, but one part holds particular weight for dealers, ProSales product editor Victoria Markovitz reports. Called “Resource Efficiency,” it focuses on minimizing the amount of material that goes into a home, choosing environmentally friendly products, and generating less waste. While the standard may result in fewer sales of some materials, it allows for more sales of other products. And, the section gives dealers the opportunity to work with builders throughout the construction process to become crucial in meeting green objectives.

Here’s a summary of the NAHB rules most likely to affect dealers.

Getting Certified. To reach the minimum level of certification, Bronze, a builder must earn 222 points by following suggested and mandatory green practices. The Resource Efficiency section must make up 45 of those points–the second-most points required for any category. To reach the highest level of certification, Emerald, a builder must get 697 points, 146 of which need to come from the Resource Efficiency section.

Planning Ahead. This part is a two-edged sword for dealers, because several provisions in it give points for adopting practices that will result in builders buying less wood for a typical home than they might have in the past. On the other hand, the Resource Efficiency section helps dealers gain an important role in the construction process by working with builders to develop the best possible plan for a project. And, dealers can ensure builders don’t overstock products, says Kevin Morrow, the NAHB’s green building program director. Using advanced framing techniques can lower lumber needs and earn builders up to nine points. Builders get up to 13 points for minimizing material cuts, which reduces waste, if builders do so for at least 80% of specific areas, such as floors, walls, and roofs. The standard rewards four points for detailed plans and materials lists and onsite cut lists.

The Parr Company of Hillsboro, Ore.–which includes a lumber yard and wholesale hardware store–shows how dealers can get involved. The company developed a program for green builders that includes a pre-construction covers new building techniques and developing specific instructions for projects. In the end, the program reduces lumber waste by 75 % compared to traditionally-built homes, the company says.

Recycling. Both dealers and builders can become greener by working together to reuse products. Builders who recycle two or more types of construction material—wood, cardboard, metal, etc.–can get up to six points. Dealers can work with builders to figure out what could be returned to yards, Morrow says. Using Prepared Products. The standards provide a variety of green products dealers can stock. Builders get 12 points for using pre-cut or pre-assembled components for 90% of floor, wall, and roof systems. Roof trusses, floor trusses, and engineered wood are listed as products that use less waste than conventional counterparts. These types of products can get builders a maximum of nine points. Materials that do not require additional finishing give builders up to 12 points.

Preventing Deterioration. Porch roofs and awnings, roof overhangs, and termite barriers help builders get up to 13 points. Using termite-resistant materials gets builders up to six points. Where required by the International Residential Code or the International Building Code, installing a water-resistive barrier or drainage plane system behind exterior veneer or siding is mandatory. Builders also need to install ice barriers at roof eaves in areas with a history of ice forming along the eaves, which causes a backup of water. Flashing certain locations earns builders six points. To get the points, flashing must be installed around exterior fenestrations, skylights, and doors; at roof valleys; at deck or balcony intersections with buildings; and at roof-to-wall intersections and roof-to-chimney intersections. Drip caps must be provided above windows and doors that are not flashed.

Using Environmentally-Friendly Products. Builders get three points if at least 90% of roof surfaces use products that meet Energy Star cool roof requirements. Three points are awarded if builders use reclaimed or salvaged materials (if the cost of these materials and related labor is at least 1% of a project’s total construction cost). Using materials with recycled content for two minor or two major parts of a home earns up to nine points. Minor parts include trim and cabinetry, and major parts include walls, insulation, floors, and roofs. Using indigenous materials for major building elements gets builders up to 10 points. Builders get more points by using products made from renewable resources.

Certified Wood. A variety of certified wood is accepted: from the American Tree Farm System, the Canadian Standards Association’s Sustainable Forest Management System, the Forest Stewardship Council, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification systems (and programs it recognizes), and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.. Builders get three points for using two certified wood products on minor elements and four points for using two certified wood products in major elements. Builders must show the wood’s certification document to inspectors.

Renewable products also include bio-based materials. These are certified solid wood, such as engineered wood, bamboo, wool, cotton, and cork; products made from straw or natural fibers; and products made from crops, such as soy-based and corn-based materials. Each should have at least 50% bio-based content by weight or volume or be designated as BioPreferred by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. At least 0.5% of a project’s total material cost needs to come from bio-based materials to get builders up to eight points.

Considering the Cycle. The last part of the section encourages builders to think about how products are made and delivered. Using materials that come from manufacturers with green practices can earn builders up to 10 points, if costs equal at least 1% of the estimated total building materials cost. If a company’s production facilities are ISO 14001 certified, then its products can contribute to this category. Companies with ISO 14001 certification meet specific environmental management requirements, and were certified by an outside party. Products that do well on life cycle assessments earn builders up to 15 points.

During a life cycle assessment, an array of factors is considered to determine how much a product impacts the environment. How much energy went into making a product, what a product contains, how far a product needs to travel, whether a product can be reused, and more are taken into account. For example, a cabinet made locally would have less of an impact than the same cabinet shipped across the country. Software programs are available to demonstrate which products are best according to life cycle analysis. One program, BEES, can be downloaded online for free, and the tool can help dealers make product choices.

Going Beyond Products. The Resource Efficiency section shows that builders must think in terms of green throughout a project, from making detailed plans before construction to finding ways to reuse scraps. Lumber dealers can become key allies in helping make this process easier. “It isn’t just delivering materials that are stamped as resource efficient,” Morrow says. “There are plenty of opportunities in making sure a builder can become greener.”