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ORLANDO-The first national standards of its kind for green homebuilding are in the works. The two most influential groups in the home building industry will be the authors. They are the National Association of Home Builders and the International Code Council, both based in Washington, DC.

The enterprise was revealed Wednesday at the 63rd annual International Builders Show being attended by 100,000 industry professionals and 1,800 exhibitors at the Orange County Convention Center. The four-day event concludes Saturday. NAHB president David Pressly and ICC president Wally Bailey made the joint announcement.

"NAHB has long recognized many of its members as leaders and innovators in building green homes, but their efforts were local and without any regional or national reference," Pressly said. "Members needed clearer guidance, but wanted to maintain flexibility and be able to incorporate regional distinctions." NAHB tried to fill those needs in 2005 with the publication of its Model Green Home Building Guidelines, "now a nationally recognized green building certification tool," Pressly added.