Green builder burned by mortgage crisis

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The builder of a five-star energy efficient home in East Austin cannot sell it, because of the credit crisis. Gary Citron tried for months to market the home, primarily to "twenty-somethings" who are passionate about the environment. Lenders, though, stung by the economic downturn, were requiring twenty per-cent down payments. That put the house out of reach for those prospective buyers. So Citron was forced to put it on the rental market.

Unable to sell the house, Citron cannot afford to start a new project and as a result, one more "social entrepreneur" is shut out of the economy.

Citron said he wants government help for such projects. One suggestion: Tax builders of large, energy-guzzling homes and use the proceeds to reward green builders' efforts.