The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has earned its fourth Energy Star designation for the National Housing Center, the Washington, D.C., office building that serves as the association’s headquarters. The designation recognizes buildings that conserve natural resources while providing a comfortable and healthy environment for employees and visitors.

Since the building was significantly expanded and renovated in 2001, the National Housing Center’s property manager, Transwestern, has continued to fine-tune the details of the original energy-efficient construction project, said Jerry Howard, NAHB executive vice president.

“We continue to replace traditional incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs,” Howard said. “We have also installed more motion detectors in little-used rooms.”

Transwestern staff also regularly inspects and maintains the heating and air conditioning equipment used in the building to optimize its performance and prolong its life, Howard said. The National Housing Center’s continued Energy Star designations save money and energy while sending a strong signal regarding housing industry support for voluntary energy guidelines.

“Many of our members build homes with appliances and heating and cooling systems that meet the Energy Star guidelines. In fact, more than 800,000 Energy Star-rated homes have been constructed in the past 10 years,” Howard said. “These home builders’ business practices show how NAHB members are at the forefront of green building, and that’s reflected in how we operate our national headquarters.”