MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) congratulates Veridian Homes, LLC on 20 years of participation in the DNR’s Green Tier program.
Veridian Homes, a residential homebuilder in Dane County, was an early adopter of Green Tier, a DNR program designed to support and recognize environmental leaders in Wisconsin. As a foundational member of the program, Veridian has been a leader in business sustainability.
Since joining Green Tier in 2005, the same year the program was established, Veridian has taken proactive steps to improve its environmental footprint. Veridian’s goal is to build highly energy-efficient homes, and it has worked closely with Focus on Energy to achieve this goal.
“Green Tier has strengthened our commitment to building not only great homes, but also a healthier environment for our communities,” said Veridian leadership. “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.”
In 2024 alone, homes constructed by Veridian achieved a total energy savings of over 2.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity, which is enough to heat around 280 Wisconsin households over the course of the year. Efficient technologies minimize impacts over the entire life of the home and provide ongoing cost savings for owners while improving resale value. Veridian also offers a solar-ready option, empowering homeowners to consider renewable energy. In addition to energy efficiency, Veridian has used building products with low or no volatile organic chemicals, reused and recycled materials and taken steps to reduce trucking emissions. All of these efforts result in positive environmental outcomes and consumer benefits.
Veridian is also a founding member of another Green Tier effort, the Clear Waters Initiative Charter. The Clear Waters Initiative is a partnership between local government units in Dane County, the building sector, the DNR, the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission and the Wisconsin Chapter of the North American Stormwater and Erosion Control Association. The association brings members together to collaborate on reducing sediment and nutrient delivery to Dane County lakes, streams and wetlands. Through this partnership, Veridian and the other members have worked together to develop and pilot products and practices that improve erosion control and stormwater management.
Veridian will continue to explore ways to increase the energy efficiency of its homes and reduce the environmental impacts of the construction process. Current efforts include testing concrete washout stations to prevent runoff into waterways and exploring biodegradable stakes as a sustainable alternative to metal staples.
DNR Secretary Karen Hyun honored Veridian at the company’s design studio in Madison on Aug. 28 and praised the homebuilder for the steps it has taken over the last 20 years. She specifically highlighted Veridian’s efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of not only their business operations but also the homes it produces.
Learn more about Green Tier and Veridian’s participation on the DNR website.
