Study: KB Home, Pulte lead public builders in sustainable practices

America’s 10 largest publicly traded home builders have started to improve their policies and practices relating to the environment and resources, but much progress remains to be achieved, according to a new study by Calvert Investments, a sustainable and responsible investment firm. KB Home and Pulte ranked at the top of Calvert’s list, while Meritage Homes, Toll Brothers, and Standard Pacific all improved against Calvert’s previous ranking. DR Horton and Ryland Group lost ground.

Builder of the Year

Jagoe Homes Named Pro Builder's Builder of the Year

Armed with years of management improvements and a recession-busting attitude, Pro Builder’s Builder of the Year kept its focus on a diversified and value-rich product offering to emerge as one of the best-run builders in the business

Show Village 2011 Preview: Uber-green home for under $75,000

At a scant 528 square feet, the Eco-Cabana model from Palm Harbor Homes may be small in stature but it is mighty when it comes to green living. Designed to meet DOE’s Builders Challenge energy performance requirements of sub-70 on the HERS Index, the model will be loaded with high-performance, sustainable features.

Show Village 2011 Preview: Narrow-lot living for any environment

Measuring just 30 feet in width, the Sea Breeze model is designed specifically for narrow-lot, infill applications for just about any region or environment in the country — from coastal settings and mountainous areas to urban landscapes and traditional suburban neighborhoods.

Combating negative press

While conducting research on a builder for a recent issue of Professional Builder, I did what most people do first when they want to learn more about a company, or any subject for that matter. I went to Google. I punched in the builder’s name and was immediately taken aback by the Page 1 search results. Naturally, the first few items related to the company’s website, but the third and fifth items where consumer feedback websites laced with comments blasting the builder.

When the economic tide goes out

Two years ago, at the height of the global financial crisis, investor Warren Buffett pulled out this gem of a quote to describe the situation. “It’s only when the tide goes out that you learn who’s been swimming naked.” And while this is an accurate expression of what happens to weak businesses when there is a downturn in the business cycle, it seems particularly apt as a description of the builder market before and after the housing market bubble burst.

Beazer Homes settles stormwater violations in 21 states for $925,000

Beazer Homes has agreed today to pay a $925,000 civil penalty to resolve alleged Clean Water Act violations at its construction sites in 21 states, the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced. As part of the settlement, Beazer will also implement a company-wide stormwater program to improve compliance with stormwater runoff requirements at current and future construction sites around the country.

Survey: Builders cautiously upbeat about growth prospects for next year

While home builders are less than upbeat about the health of the overall housing market, most are optimistic when it comes forecasting revenue and profit for 2011, according to a survey of Professional Builder readers. More builders than not indicated that they are planning for flat or higher revenue and profit in the coming year, with nearly a fifth of respondents projecting revenue growth of 7 percent or higher.

NAHB: Builder confidence improves slightly in November

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes improved slightly in November, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released last week. The HMI rose one notch to 16 from a downwardly revised level of 15 in the previous month.

Low-impact development practices for stormwater management

Meeting EPA’s stormwater runoff requirements doesn’t have to bust the budget. To help home builders toward this effort, the NAHB Research Center has developed its “Low Impact Development Practices for Storm Water Management,” a set of cost-effective best practices to address stormwater management through site design.