Rodney Graham, owner of John Marshall Custom Homes of Davidson, has been awarded the designation of Certified Green Professional by the National Association of Home Builders.

Mr. Graham says he’s already putting to use the training he received as part of the certification, as he builds a house on Catawba Avenue in Davidson under the guidelines of the “LEED For Homes” program administered by the U.S. Green Building Council.

“Building green is not just about helping the environment or combating global warming,” Mr. Graham says. “Green building involves creating healthy indoor environments, minimizing water use through planting native, drought-tolerant plants, and developing and selecting building sites that minimize sprawl.”

John Marshall Custom Homes is building what will be the first LEED-certified house in Davidson on a Catawba Avenue site developed by Orlando Land Co. LLC of Davidson. At 1,630 square feet, the house is compact, yet provides comfortable living spaces, Mr. Graham says. Features include conditioned crawl and attic spaces, spray foam insulation, efficient HVAC equipment, zero-VOC paints, tankless water heater, and a landscape plan that features native plants and water retention devices that prevent stormwater runoff. Also, the builder is sending much of the construction waste to recycling facilities.

The LEED house at 233 Catawba Ave. will be open for public tours beginning in August. Check www.johnmarshallcustomhomes.com for additional information.