Employees Learn About Green Building on Earth Day
To coincide with Earth Day last week, WCI Communities offered comprehensive green building training to more than 100 of its new employees in the New York area. The national home building company has been a leader in building green homes and sustainable communities. Representatives from the company joined national green building consultant Jennifer Languell and executives from Audubon International and Taylor Recycling. “Education is the cornerstone of green building within the home building industry,” said Karen Childress, environmental stewardship manager for WCI Communities. “At WCI, we’re committed to demonstrating that attractive, cost-effective, energy-efficient, healthy green homes can become part of the mainstream home building industry.” The company received an Outstanding Green Marketing Award from NAHB in the 2005 National Green Building Awards competition for a green community promotion that used an education center, Web site (www.wcigreen.com), trained sales staff and public presentations on the need for sustainable and green building. WCI’s Earth Day training provided a comprehensive look at green building throughout the home building industry, including: - “Green Building 101”: what green building is and how it can be incorporated into the home design and construction process
- NAHB’s new Model Green Home Building Guidelines
- Recycling construction debris
- Building successful partnerships between builders and nonprofit environmental organizations
In 2002, WCI began training its employees in green building through a program offered by the University of Florida. According to the university, it has sent more of its employees to the training than any other corporation. “I’m told we still hold that record,” said Childress.
Since 2001, the company has invested more than $3 million in a partnership with Audubon International that has brought comprehensive changes to land management, water conservation, wildlife preservation and community education throughout communities in Florida. All of the 1,300 homes planned for Its flagship community, The Venetian Golf and River Club in Venice, Fla., will be built green. For more information on WCI Communities green building projects, e-mail Pam Cox, or call her at 239-498-8347. | 
