Columbia, MD (June 9, 2009) – The Awake House, a home constructed by Columbia Builders for The Arc of Howard County, is the first single-family home in Maryland to qualify for the highest rating awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) committee awarded the home on Torrent Row in Columbia a platinum certification in green building and design.

"As a LEED certified home, The Awake House serves as a model of greener living for the entire community," said Nate Kredich, vice president of residential market development for the U.S. Green Building Council.

"The home is at the national forefront of quality," he said, adding that it will inspire many "to live better by reducing our environmental footprint, cutting our utility bills and coming home to a healthier place to live."

An independent energy rater assigned the house a Home Energy and Rating System (HERS) rank of 46, meaning it is 54 percent more energy-efficient than homes built to standard code.

"This impressive energy-efficiency rating is not only environmentally responsible, it represents future cost savings for The Arc as it maintains this home, which will prove to be more comfortable and more durable over time because of its green features," said Jim Greenfield, president of Columbia Builders. "We are proud to have taken part in this worthwhile venture."

Joining Greenfield in leading the endeavor were Jay Raksin from The Arc of Howard County and Don Taylor, lead architect with DW Taylor and Associates, located in Ellicott City.

The 2,200-square-foot home is owned by Supportive Living Inc. and occupied by four individuals who are supported by The Arc, a nonprofit organization whose mission it is to help persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities achieve full community life.

Features of the five-bedroom house include the use of rainwater recovery barrels as part of a high-efficiency irrigation system; drought-resistant landscaping and non-invasive plants; energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, windows, and appliances; and low-emission materials.

Once it was determined that it would make more sense to rebuild than to remodel, Greenfield, together with many of Columbia Builders' long time subcontractors donated services or provided them at cost in order to make the project a reality.

Aside from these generous contributions, the project received $450,000 in funding from the Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development.

About Columbia Builders, Inc.
For nearly 35 years, Columbia Builders has been building homes and communities in Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Columbia Builders has built more than 3,000 homes in more than 50 communities and is recognized for superior craftsmanship and innovation by national, regional and local industry associations. The company was the first homebuilder in Maryland to receive the prestigious Energy Value Award from the National Association of Home Builders. In 2009, Columbia Builders became an ENERGY STAR partner, building its homes to meet strict energy-saving criteria established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.