WASHINGTON — The vast majority of residential builders and developers — 90% — are interested in participating in a voluntary green building certification program, according to the results of a survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

“As confirmed in this survey, voluntary, market-driven programs are the best way to encourage the growth of green building,” said NAHB President Brian Catalde, a builder from Southern California. “More than 100,000 homes have already been built and certified by voluntary, builder-supported programs across the country.”

NAHB will launch its National Green Building Program on Feb. 14 at the 2008 International Builders’ Show. Almost 80% of the builders and developers surveyed identified the NAHB National Green Building Program as the one that they would most trust over other national programs such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED-H rating system.

Survey questions also focused on green land development practices. More than 80% of respondents listed leaving as many trees as possible as the most important consideration when developing land for new home construction. Other practices builders say are most important include minimizing site disruption (69%), making greater use of recycled materials in home building (59%) and preserving open space by building on smaller lots (54%).