Commitment will see 200 to 250 LEED homes within the next year

San Antonio, TX (April 1, 2013)... The U.S. Green Building Council announces that McGuyer Homebuilders Inc. (MHI), a leading production homebuilder in Texas, will pursue LEED for Homes certification for all houses built under its Wilshire Homes brand in the San Antonio market. The commitment will see 200 to 250 LEED-certified homes within the next 12 months and 400 to 500 homes annually within three to four years.

Wilshire Homes/MHI’s engagement with LEED in the San Antonio market is its second such commitment in Texas; in 2011 it pledged LEED certification for all homes in the Dallas-Fort Worth market under its Plantation Homes, Coventry Homes and Carmel Builders brands.

"As the largest builder of single-family LEED homes in Texas and the nation, MHI has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the sustainable building movement," said Roger Platt, Senior Vice President, Global Policy & Law, USGBC. "We are extremely pleased that this proven leader in the homebuilding community has chosen to expand on its commitment to building high-performing LEED houses that are better for the environment and the people who occupy them."

All Wilshire Homes/MHI houses built in the San Antonio market will be part of the company’s unique Energy Guarantee Program, featuring individual-home dollar-amount guarantees of energy- and water-use savings. All MHI homes will be least 30 percent more efficient than equivalent, non-LEED-certified homes, while each home will also produce annual water savings equal to an average-size swimming pool.

Wilshire Homes/MHI will also continue its commitment to ENERGY STAR and Green Built Texas in the San Antonio market through its EcoSmart program.

"With independent inspections to verify energy and water savings for every residence built, homebuyers can be confident that Wilshire Homes are the highest-quality, most energy efficient production houses on the market in the San Antonio area," said Ken Gezella, Division Sales Manager-San Antonio, Wilshire Homes/MHI. "LEED certification is the universal mark of superior building performance, and our commitment to LEED reflects our efforts to ensure the lowest possible heating and cooling costs in every house we build."

The first Wilshire Homes model slated to achieve LEED certification is currently under construction at the Woodside Village community in Boerne, Texas.

The LEED certification system promotes the design and construction of high-performing green homes that use less energy and water, consume fewer natural resources, create less waste and are healthier and more comfortable for occupants. For more information about LEED for Homes, visit www.leedforhomes.org.

About U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
USGBC is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org, explore the Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG) and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About LEED
As the most widely recognized and widely used green building program across the globe, LEED is transforming buildings, homes and communities in all 50 states and 135 countries. LEED guides the design, construction, operations and maintenance of over 50,000 projects worldwide, comprising 9.6 billion square feet of commercial and institutional construction space, and over 130,000 additional residential units.

By using less energy, LEED-certified spaces save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce carbon emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. Learn more at usgbc.org/leed.

About MHI
For more than twenty years, a group of companies including McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc., MHI Partnership, Ltd. and MHI Central Texas, have worked together as a unified team building on the strength and integrity of their founders Frank McGuyer and Mike Love. Since its inception in 1988, MHI has continued to bring valuable experience to the homebuilding industry by retaining quality professionals in sales, customer service, construction, land finance and marketing. With the distinct brands Wilshire Homes, Plantation Homes, Coventry Homes and Carmel Builders, MHI provides added flexibility for developers and homebuyers alike. Over 98% of MHI’s customers are willing to recommend MHI to their family and friends. MHI has been ranked among the top 30 homebuilders in the nation and continues to set trends within the industry with its commitment to the EcoSmart home platform.