By the year 2020, 81 percent of homebuilders surveyed by Dodge Data and Analytics said at least 16 percent of their projects would be green; and 51 percent said a minimum of 60 percent of their houses would be environmentally friendly.

More and more homebuilders are recognizing that in order to make more of the green stuff "?u money, in other words "?u they are going to have to build green.

A new study put out by Dodge Data and Analytics and the National Association of Home Builders shows that going green is the wave of the future "?u at least in the housing market.

"Builders and remodelers have long recognized that green is the future of homebuilding," said Tom Woods, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders.

Most homebuilders and remodelers are well aware of this trend, the findings in the 2015 study reveal. Some 230 homebuilders and remodelers from across the U.S. were surveyed by Dodge Data.

Among the key findings, by the year 2020:
• Nearly all of the homebuilders, 81 percent, said at least 16 percent of their projects would be green;
• More than half of the homebuilders, 51 percent, said a minimum of 60 percent of their houses would be environmentally friendly;
• Practically all of the remodelers, 74 percent, said at least 16 percent of their home improvement jobs would be of a sustainable nature;
• Over a third of the remodelers, 36 percent, said no less than 60 percent of their projects would emphasize energy efficiency and conservation.

Most homebuilders, 77 percent, also recognize that going green is a bit more expensive, adding about 5 percent to the traditional cost of construction. The cost factor is a major obstacle to the green homebuilding movement.

But this has not curbed consumers' appetite for green environments, Dodge and NAHB officials said. "Since we first began partnering on this study with Dodge Data & Analytics in 2006, we've seen that commitment (to green) grow," Woods said. "The study's recent findings reinforce this continued growth, with new homeowner feedback showing a desire and expectation that new homes be high-performing, particularly when it comes to energy conservation. Most builders recognize that they need to be at least conversant in green to stay competitive."

People are increasingly associating green homes with a healthier lifestyle. And most homebuilders, 83 percent, believe consumers will pay more for homes based on an improved quality of life, Dodge Data and the NAHB said.

By 2018, 48 percent of homebuilders and remodelers expect to be using solar photovoltaic technology, and 52 percent anticipate using ground source heat pumps.

"Net zero homes are also emerging as an important trend, with nearly one quarter (21 percent) of home builders having built a net zero home in the last two years," Dodge Data.

Dodge Data and Analytics: https://tinyurl.com/oh96dlv