To the Editor:

Re “The New Trophy Home, Small and Ecological” (front page, June 22):

As the voice of the nation’s housing industry, the National Association of Home Builders is delighted that the subject of tankless water heaters has moved into the realm of cocktail-party banter. The more consumers learn about green techniques and materials, the more discerning they become.

Expensive, designer green homes won’t solve our nation’s energy crisis. A certification checklist “more daunting than a private-school application” means money not spent to upgrade the furnace or add more insulation.

Durable, sustainable and energy-efficient homes come in all price ranges through the N.A.H.B. National Green Building Program. It’s true that many costly, inefficient requirements are being “woven into building codes” across the country—as the nation undergoes the worst housing finance crisis in decades.

Voluntary programs that pay attention to cost-effectiveness will make green homes affordable to buyers of more modest means.

Sandra J. Dunn
President
National Association of Home Builders
Washington, June 24, 2008