As part of Collier Construction’s goal to further develop its green construction practices and credentials, Ethan Collier, president and CEO, earned passing scores on the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Professional Accreditation Exam last week.

Mr. Collier will become one of only three general contractors in all of Chattanooga to have earned the notable designation. Among Chattanooga’s LEED Accredited Professionals, Mr. Collier is the only residential builder, and Collier Construction’s goal is to have all vice presidents and superintendents LEED accredited by summer of 2009.

LEED is part of the U.S. Green Building Council and serves as a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

Mr. Collier said, “Green construction plays a vital role in ensuring the quality of homes and homebuilders. We see sustainability as the best way to give homeowners a better performing home, a home that costs less to heat and cool, and a home that lasts a lot longer too.”

Mr. Collier’s company has practiced green construction methods since 2004, and the company continues to improve its whole-systems approach to better fit the needs of homeowners. For every home that Collier builds, the company uses advanced framing techniques in order to reduce lumber use, increase insulation and strengthen the home’s structural integrity, officials said.

"As energy costs continue to rise, green construction is appealing to people who want to reduce their heating and air bills by as much as 50%," Mr. Collier said. “We’ve heard back from customers who only paid around $100 to cool their 5,000 square foot homes for the month of July.

“Green construction is a long term investment that has shown great return.”

He said homeowners can save thousands of dollars a year on energy and maintenance costs with a green home.
“It is likely that in a few years, the only construction will be green construction. Then it will be important for construction companies to offer higher credentials and more experience in sustainable construction.”

Mr. Collier, who has facilitated numerous workshops on advanced framing techniques and construction waste recycling, noted that his firm early this year recycled two houses on Harper Street. The houses were demolished to clear space for six sustainable courtyard homes being developed by Metier Company, a development firm owned by Mr. Collier and architect Taylor Bowers.

He said Collier Construction "has developed a reputation as Chattanooga’s green builder through numerous LEED certified projects and EarthCraft homes."

Collier Construction recently completed the construction of Chattanooga’s first three LEED certified homes on Madison Street in Jefferson Heights. The homes feature energy efficient siding, recycled and recyclable materials, and advanced framing.

The Madison Street Development, pioneered by developer Christian Rushing, was recently awarded Green Development of the Year by Tennessee’s Chapter of the American Planning Association.

Mr. Collier was also in charge of the build-out of green|spaces, a resource center and incentive program for commercial and residential green construction and development.

CONTACT:
Ethan Collier
Founder/President & CEO
265-0110
ethan@collierbuild.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.collierbuild.com
www.usgbc.org