The USGBC says it is seeing program participation increasing, even as the balance of new-home starts declines

Given current interest in its LEED for Homes program, the U.S. Green Building Council says, the number of houses registered to the program could exceed 1% of new-home starts by the end of 2009.

Since October, LEED for Homes project registrations exceeded 8,500, a year-over-year increase of more than 5,000, Nate Kredich, USGBC’s vice president of residential market development, recently told EcoHome magazine.

In addition, more than 1,700 homes have been certified since October, an increase of more than 700 over the year-ago period.

Despite the down housing market, “projects that have that determined focus on sustainability are moving forward,” Kredich said. “Our numbers are moving opposite the market.”

He added that USGBC’s Greenbuild conference scheduled for November 11-13 likely will feature significantly more homebuilder-specific workshops and other events than were presented at the well-attended Greenbuild last fall.