Madison Reporter

Veridian Homes, a residential homebuilder based in Dane County, has reached 20 years as a participant in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Green Tier program. The company was among the first to join the initiative when it began in 2005 and has since maintained its commitment to environmentally responsible building practices.

The Green Tier program was established by the DNR to recognize and support businesses that demonstrate leadership in environmental stewardship across Wisconsin. Veridian Homes has played a foundational role in this effort, consistently focusing on sustainability within its operations.

Since becoming part of Green Tier, Veridian Homes has set out to construct homes with high energy efficiency standards. In collaboration with Focus on Energy, the company works toward reducing energy use in its developments. According to Veridian leadership, "Green Tier has strengthened our commitment to building not only great homes, but also a healthier environment for our communities. By weaving environmental stewardship into our building practices, we’ve created lasting value for our customers while protecting the natural resources that make Wisconsin such a special place to live. Just as importantly, Green Tier holds all of us accountable to higher standards – ensuring that sustainability is not just a goal, but a responsibility we share together."

Data from 2024 show that homes built by Veridian saved over 2.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity during the year. This amount of energy could heat about 280 typical Wisconsin households annually. The company’s approach includes using efficient technologies designed to minimize environmental impact throughout each home's lifespan and provide cost savings for homeowners. These efforts also tend to improve resale values for buyers.

In addition to energy conservation measures, Veridian offers options for solar-ready homes and uses materials with low or no volatile organic chemicals. The builder incorporates recycled materials where possible and takes steps aimed at reducing emissions from trucking activities related to construction projects.

Veridian Homes is also recognized as a founding member of the Clear Waters Initiative Charter under Green Tier. This initiative is a partnership involving local government agencies in Dane County, other members of the building sector, the DNR itself, regional planning authorities, and industry associations focused on stormwater management and erosion control. Together, these partners develop and test new products and methods intended to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff into area lakes, streams, and wetlands.

Ongoing projects at Veridian include testing concrete washout stations meant to prevent harmful runoff into waterways and evaluating biodegradable stakes as alternatives to traditional metal staples used during construction.

On August 28th at Veridian’s design studio in Madison, DNR Secretary Karen Hyun recognized the company’s two decades of participation in Green Tier. She commended Veridian's sustained efforts both within its own operations and through its impact on homeowners across Wisconsin: "She specifically highlighted Veridian's efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of not only their business operations but also the homes it produces."

Further details about Green Tier and Veridian’s role are available through the DNR website.