MATTHEW BELCHER

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Director, University of Missouri-Columbia High Performance Buildings Research Center

Principal; Verdatek Solutions

Matt Belcher is an experienced builder/developer and nationally-recognized consultant, educator and author on the business of energy efficient “green” building and development. He has been actively involved in the St. Louis area construction industry for three decades, including six years as a top building codes official. Specializing in building energy efficient, sustainable homes and light commercial construction and development management using low-impact, economically and ecologically conscious development practices; He has consulted on large sustainable mixed use commercial/residential developments and is committed to the “whole building” design approach; the philosophy that every decision should be made in the context of what else it may affect in its construction, economics and ecosystem.

As Director of the University of Missouri’s High Performance Buildings Research Center,  part of MU’s  Energy Efficiency Research Consortium; Mr. Belcher educates building industry professionals and governmental administrators on International Building, Mechanical and Energy Conservation Code structure, methodology and application and promoting building practices shown to create commercial, residential and agricultural buildings and developments that are safer, cleaner, more energy-efficient, have greater resilience and are better for the environment and economics. Mr. Belcher has also lent his expertise to lobby for and the development of green building legislation, advising on managing legal risks associated with commercial and residential green building as a member of Construction Dispute Resolution Services National Panel of Green Construction Specialists.  

As an EPA Energy Star Partner and EPA Indoor Air PLUS partner, Mr. Belcher has built and renovated homes that provide proven performance through review and testing. Mr. Belcher is also a partner in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America program and its new Challenge Home Program where homes demonstrate construction that is at least 30% above International Energy Conservation Codes. Mr. Belcher is able to include this experience in his residential commercial and agricultural building along with his code training and consulting.

Mr. Belcher serves on the National Association of Homebuilders Board of Directors and is Chairman of the NAHB Energy & Green Building sub-committee, he also serves on NAHB’s Building Codes and Standards sub-committees and where he advises on incorporating cost effective sustainability into International Building and Energy Conservation Codes. He is an approved Trainer for NAHB’s Certified Green Professional (CGP) and Master Certified Green Professional (MCGP) designations. He has also serves on the Board of Directors of The Green Building Initiative and participated in the oversight of the development and implementation of the Green Globes commercial green building criteria. He currently resides on the Board of Directors of the Structural Insulated Panel Association.

Mr. Belcher was the 2007 President of the Home Builders Association (HBA) of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri. He has served on its Building Codes Committee for sixteen years including seven as Chairman. He chaired both the 2006 NAHB National Green Building Conference in Albuquerque NM and the 2007 Conference held in St. Louis, which is the nation’s leading educational conference on residential high performance building, remodeling and development. He was instrumental in helping to organize the St. Louis HBA’s award winning green building effort and has served as its chair for the past seven years. In addition, he assists other HBA’s around the country in training and developing green building programs. This experience led him to organize and chair the Annual Greening Midwest Communities conference to educate Builders, Remodelers, Municipal Officials and others associated with the industry to educate and promote the economic advantages of green building and development practices.

Mr. Belcher was elected by the Board of Directors of the International Code Council to serve on the Energy and Water Committee for development of the new ICC International Green Construction Code for the 2011 term and was appointed to ICC’s new Residential Energy committee. He also served on a steering committee of the Canadian based Net Zero Energy Home Coalition to develop a North American Net Zero Energy Home Standard. Belcher is also working with ACTIVE HOUSE in the development of their European based standard and was selected to build a prototype home in the United States. He has also consulted with the Chinese Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development in the Development of the “Green Star” Green Building Standard in China

In 2008 Mr. Belcher testified to the U.S. House Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee on Climate Benefits of Improved Building Energy Efficiency. In 2011 He was invited back to Capitol Hill to educate the U.S. House High Performance Buildings Caucus on the business benefits of HP Buildings.