As soon as you dig into this issue of CUSTOM HOME, you’ll notice a different approach to our annual Pacesetter Awards. This year, instead of relying on custom builders to nominate themselves for an award, we’ve gone out hunting for the best candidates. We did so because we wanted to recognize deep expertise in a single realm of custom building instead of our usual multiple-category competition. We think this will enrich the program for our readers and add new significance for its winners. Our editors have always made the final selection for the awards, and that practice continues. So, what is the realm of accomplishment we honor here? Sustainable building.
Some of you will be rolling your eyes at this point. “Oh, no. Not another green building story.” To which we say, “Yes. Another story about green building.” No one is done with this subject matter, and no one will be done with it until sustainable practices are second nature to everyone involved in any kind of construction.
We understand some of you feel impatient with any talk of green, because for you, “green building” is just good building or high-performance construction. You have already absorbed these best practices into your everyday approach to home-building. That’s great. But believe me, you are still in the minority among your profession. That’s changing, but not fast enough.
We also understand that there are no absolutes yet on how to define a green home. There are dozens of admirable certification programs and standards, and they all have merits and demerits. As we identified our candidates for Pacesetter recognition, we made a point to capture the breadth of what sustainable construction can mean. Most of our winners acknowledge that their definitions constantly are evolving. And as soon as they conquer a higher standard, they go out looking for an even tougher goal to meet.
Indeed, the tireless quest for improvement and impatience with the status quo is at the heart of what it means to be a Pacesetter. We think you’ll be impressed by what our winners have accomplished so far. But if I were you, I’d pay even closer attention to where they’re going next.
Email: cconroy@hanleywood.com
