Enterprise Woman earns Green Professional certification

An Enterprise woman has earned the Certified Green Professional designation, making her one of only 50 professionals with the designation in Alabama.
Tamra Bowdoin joins about 3,000 builders, remodelers, designers and others nationwide who work to include green building principles in new homes.
Bowdoin, who holds a degree in landscaping design from Auburn University, has worked eight years as construction coordinator with Billy Cotter Construction in Enterprise. In March, she obtained her homebuilder’s license, which will enable her to build private homes. The most recent certification is based on completion of 24 hours of instruction, industry experience and commitment to continuing education, Bowdoin said.
The designation recognizes builders who incorporate green building principles into homes without driving up the cost of construction.
“A green home focuses on energy efficiency, water and resource conservation and the use of sustainable or recycled products, and measures to protect indoor air quality,” she said.
Homes certified in the green building program meet benchmarks for energy, water and resource efficiency, Bowdoin said. “Green building practices are incorporated into every step of the home building and land development process to minimize environmental impact.”
In a green home, care is taken to preserve trees and native vegetation, Bowdoin said. “Landscaping in a green home contains plants that are appropriate for the climate and grouped according to water needs.” Driveways in a green home are reduced as much as possible, and may be built with gravel, permeable block pavers, grids or other permeable systems, she said.
Fixtures and appliances such as low-flow showerheads, faucets and toilets conserve water; programmed low-volume irrigation systems, rainwater collection systems, wastewater treatment systems and hot water recirculation systems also save water.
In a green home, the house orientation and design use daylight to reduce lighting needs and include strategies to reduce heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter, Bowdoin said. Green homes contain renewable materials, including bamboo and recycled-content materials in carpets, tiles and concrete. A green home also includes features such as efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs and renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic electricity and water heating systems which further decrease the overall energy consumption within the home.
With increasing interest nationwide about environmental concerns, working to earn a CGP designation is just a natural progression, Bowdoin said.
“People’s concerns about the environment are making home builders more conscious of environmental responsibility,” Cotter said. “Fortunately, the Home Builders’ Association has come on board with the issue.”
“I’m very proud of Tamra’s accomplishment,” Cotter said. “Green homes are the way of the future.”