Arizona Homebuilder Takes The 'Leed' In Green Homebuilding

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 1, 2017

The demand for green homes has continued to grow year after year. In fact, 91 percent of buyers in the 2013 National Association of Homebuyers (NAHB) study, "What Home Buyers Really Want," listed Energy Star® -rated homes as their most-desired feature. However, in 2016, only 10 percent of new homes built were Energy Star® rated, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). And, in 2014, just 1 percent of single-family homes were certified with LEED®, the industry standard for green development.

"Our road toward sustainable building practices began more than a decade ago when we committed to building only homes that were Energy Star® -rated," said Andy Warren, Maracay Homes President. "To date, all of our homes are Energy Star® certified, and building LEED® is just the next step in our journey to become the most sustainable homebuilder in Arizona."

In 2017, Maracay introduced three neighborhoods containing homes with the opportunity for LEED® certification, including The Preserve at Adora Trails in Gilbert, Hawthorn Manor in Chandler and Cottages at Rio Paseo in Goodyear. The Vista at Granite Crossing and Villages at Rio Paseo, two additional LEED® communities, are scheduled to open in January of early next year.

LEED® Certified homes are designed to use 30 to 50 percent less energy than typical homes and include sustainability design elements such as water-efficient fixtures, LED lighting, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, wi-fi enabled, programmable thermostats and more. Additionally, Maracay plans to build over 600 homes this year that are Energy Star® certified and include Maracay Homes' LivingSmart® program for high performance and cost efficiency.

LEED®, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a widely used green building rating system created by the USGBC, a third-party rating system that verifies criteria and compliance across several areas regarding sustainability. Its certification is a globally recognized symbol of achievement in sustainability and environmental design. The USGBC created the LEED® certification in an effort to encourage sustainability-focused standards and practices used in design and construction.

For homebuyers looking to see first-hand the latest in green building from Maracay Homes, The Vista at Granite Crossing is scheduled to open in early 2018. The intimate community of 37 single-family homes is located near the Superstition Mountains of east Mesa. The community will feature five, one- and two-story floor plans ranging from 2,685 to 4,363 square feet, with Flex Design® options for optimum customization. The Vista at Granite Crossing homes will also be registered with the goal of achieving the LEED® Certified designation from the USGBC.