Their leadership continues to be recognized, as the National Association of Home Builders recently honored Pardee Homes as the Green Advocate of the Year at the 12th Annual NAHB National Green Building Conference in Raleigh, N.C.

"We are deeply honored to receive this 'body of work' recognition from the NAHB," said Mike McGee, president and CEO of Pardee Homes. "The Green Advocate designation acknowledges a tremendous investment of time, effort and painstaking learning by our workforce and our sub-contractors, suppliers and consultants."

"Pardee Homes was among the first production homebuilders to see the need and the value of a green building program," said Eric Borsting, chairman of NAHB's Green Building Subcommittee. "They have found a niche in their markets, and we commend them for helping to further green while educating the consumer on the value green offers."

As an example of their award-winning LivingSmart communities, Manzanita Trail continues to receive industry accolades, such as three Silver Awards from the 2010 Nationals competition. In addition, Manzanita Trail holds several titles of sustainable excellence, including the 2009

"Manzanita Trail offers the well-rounded approach that competition judges typically look at very closely: It has great design, great sales success, multiple story lines related to its architectural quality, appeal to a diverse market place and green and sustainable features," responded Joyce Mason, vice president of marketing for Pardee Homes.

While Pardee Homes exceeds California's Title 24 standards by at least 15 percent, Manzanita Trail, part of the master-planned community of Pacific Highlands Ranch in San Diego, Calif., exceeds the stringent Title 24 requirements by 23.1 percent.

"In the areas of energy efficiency, timber management, water conservation, indoor air quality and jobsite waste recycling, Pardee's LivingSmart program compares very well with national, state and local programs," said Mason.

Successfully, 81 of the 85 released 4,000-square-foot and 5,000- square-foot homes sold since its March 2009 opening, and Manzanita Trail is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

With the high-function, versatile designs, these 147 single-family homes appeal to the upscale family homebuyer, with prices for the eco-abodes starting from the $700,000s. As noted by Mason, the community proves that builders can "incorporate the additional value of green and sustainable features in a design line for upscale buyers."

This year, Pardee Homes continues its 2009 commitment to build all new singlefamily homes to LivingSmart standards by opening two new LivingSmart Homes neighborhoods in Riverside County, Calif. and another community incorporating the LivingSmart brand standards in Las Vegas.

"Green brings practical, tangible rewards to our homebuyers," said McGee. "Saving money, promoting health, improving comfort and using resources efficiently are all part of green living, and these benefits inspire our ongoing commitment to conserve water, land and energy."

Kristen Eichenmuller is the editor at Green Homebuilder magazine.
She may be contacted at keichenmuller@penpubinc.com.