Multifamily builders choose to go green.

• Position: Real Estate

More of the nation's apartments and condos are going green as multifamily builders and developers respond to growing consumer interest in sustainable building practices, according to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders. "Apartments and condos are inherently green because they offer more compact development to begin with," points out Steve Patterson, chairman of NAHB's Multifamily Leadership Board and an apartment and condo developer from Orlando, Fla.

"With today's heightened consumer interest in green, multifamily builders are embracing more green and recyclable products, and are more willing to invest in energy efficiency."

While 74% of the survey respondents said that buyers and renters are willing to pay more for green amenities, the median additional amount they are willing to lay out is about two percent. In the NAHB survey, which polled multifamily builders and developers...