Builder Certification
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The sun works passively in this home with lots of south-facing windows and extra mass in the floor to absorb and slowly release the sun's energy into the room. PSE Built Green Idea Home in Issaquah Highlands.
-Built by Bennett Homes
-Designed by Mithun Architects
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The Built Green program is designed to provide builders with a unique opportunity to meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly home building. Homeowners today are sensitive to issues of salmon recovery, water conservation, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality. The Built Green program gives builders the tools they need to meet this growing demand. Built Green™ is a network of architects, builders, subcontractors, suppliers and real estate agents working together to improve quality of life in King and Snohomish Counties by providing quality homes that are cost-effective to own and operate, healthy and safe, and protective of our beautiful Pacific Northwest environment.
What Is Built Green?
Built Green is a voluntary, home building program designed to create market distinction for builders who incorporate the "green" building practices in their homes. The program offers 1-, 2- and 3-Star levels that are self-certifying, and 4- and 5-Star levels that require third party verification. The Built Green logo and the program behind it will bring real value and meaningful benefits to both builders and homeowners.
Built Green Focuses on Green Features Consumers Want
Consumer surveys show a rapidly increasing interest in environmentally friendly or "green" home features like those promoted through the MBA's Built Green program. Today's homebuyers seek greater comfort and health, increased durability, and the satisfaction of knowing they are protecting the environment. This has been clearly demonstrated in our successful Built Green program, where over 4,500 homes have been certified since 2001.
It Shows You Are Willing to Do More
You are probably including many Built Green features in your homes already. By offering a home certified in the Built Green program, you help consumers instantly recognize the extra care you put into building their home and into protecting our environment. The Built Green logo tells them you're offering a structure that's extra energy-efficient, healthier indoors, and crafted with superior workmanship.
It's Fish Friendly
In recognition of the ESA listing of Pacific Northwest salmon species, the Built Green program includes more than 150 items tied directly to salmon protection and preservation. These proactive, cost-efficient strategies will enable you to incorporate building practices that protect our salmon for years to come.
It Opens the Door to Green Mortgages
Several lending institutions have begun pilot loan programs that offer "green" mortgage financing to consumers whose homes meet specific "green" criteria, including energy efficiency. In addition, Built Green's waste reduction practices are designed to help your competitiveness and bottom line by helping you to reduce costs.
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What Are The Benefits Of Joining Built Green?
Built Green can improve your bottom line, and your customers can get more home for their money. Homes built using the Built Green program incorporate environmentally features that add value and reduce the life-cycle cost of the home. Often these features add little or nothing to the first cost of the home. At the highest levels of the program (4- and 5-Star) there may be some additional cost, but it can be outweighed by added value. Ultimately, Built Green provides you with additional tools, and adds quality and affordability!
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What Additional Tools Are Provided By Joining Built Green?
When you join Built Green you get:
Information
- Easy to Read Handbook – Your choice of program
- Access to the Resource Library in the MBA Member Center
- Orientation – “Introduction to Built Green” through
MBA University
- Checklists for each of four programs
Marketing Tools
- Website Member Listing
- Listing in Built Green News Electronic
Newsletter
- Listing in MBA Magazine
- Window Decals
- Vehicle Decals
- Free Materials for Homeowner's Kit
- Use of Built Green
Logos -- Camera-Ready Logo Provided
- Yard Sign Artwork
Available
- Certificate of Merit for each certified project
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How Does Built Green Add Quality?
Many environmentally friendly products provide multiple benefits that translate to improved performance of the home and increased customer satisfaction. For example, Built Green promotes use of more durable building products. This not only saves resources, but also reduces maintenance and replacement costs and saves the owner valuable time. Here are some examples of the types of features that could be included inside a Built Green home:
Quality Enhancing Features Of Built Green
- Controlled Ventilation and Filtration - goes beyond code to provide a safer and healthier indoor environment.
- "Friendly" Paints, Sealers, Adhesives and Solvents - low-toxic formulas reduce exposure to harmful chemicals.
- Extra Energy Efficient Shell - going beyond code, the home provides a quieter, more comfortable interior prized by homeowners.
- Recycled-Content Carpeting - looks and performs like conventional synthetic carpeting; is highly resistant to fading, stains, and static shock.
- Natural Alternatives to Wood Flooring - in flooring and countertops, bamboo, cork, linoleum, for example, offer a natural look while being more stable and more long-lasting than conventional products.
- Innovative Bio-Composite Products - new products add decorative flair to a home on the market.
- Recycled-Content Ceramic Tile - performs like conventional ceramic tile.
- "Friendly" Insulation - a variety available including low toxic, recycled content, and high density options.
Quality Enhancing Exterior Features
- Fiber Cement Siding - lasts 30 years longer than conventional siding products and is easier to maintain.
- Drought Tolerant Landscaping - protects and beautifies the site, reduces water consumption and routine yard maintenance.
- Erosion Control and Preservation of Topsoil during construction not only protects soil from washing away into streams, but reapplying topsoil after construction helps plants grow better and require less irrigation.
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How Does Built Green Add Affordability?
Buyers save money because energy efficient homes generate lower utility bills and maintenance costs. Now, it may also be possible to qualify for a higher loan amount and buy a better home for a lower monthly cost. Examples of other first cost or operational savings are below.
Dollar Saving Features of Built Green
- Advanced Framing Technique - provides more insulation while saving lumber costs by 10% or more.
- Passive Solar Siting and Design - uses nature's energy, not the utility's, to supplement heating and lighting.
- Radiant Floor Heating - generating an ambient temperature of 65 degrees can provide the same comfort as a forced air system generating an ambient temperature of 72 degrees, shaving 20% to 40% off heating bills.
- Compact Fluorescent Lighting - uses one-quarter to one-third as much electricity as incandescents and last 10 times longer.
- Front Loading (Horizontal-Axis) Clothes Washers - use one-third as much water as conventional washers, reducing water and energy use by two-thirds. They are also quieter and cause less wear on fabrics.
- Native Landscaping - reduces water consumption as much as 50%, requires less maintenance and little or no chemical treatments.
- Water-conserving Showerheads and Faucets - can cut hot water use in half, saving a family of four 14,000 gallons of water a year and the energy required to heat it.
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Do Consumers Want It?
In a Spring 2004 survey conducted at the PSE Built Green Idea Home in Issaquah Highlands, visitors responded that the most important features to them are, in descending order:
- Controlled ventilation for clean air, followed by
- Use of renewable/recycled materials
- Clean water & water conservation
- Low-emitting materials
- Energy efficiency
- Built Green certification
It was also found that a $20,000 premium for added green features was NOT a barrier in the price range $560,000. It is not insignificant that Built Green certification is Number Six: while consumers want and expect higher indoor air quality, energy efficiency, water conservation, and the wise use of resources, they also want to be assured that they’re getting it. The builder’s, remodeler’s, developer’s or designer’s signature on the Built Green project checklist provides that extra reassurance.
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How Did The Program Start?
Built Green was developed by the Master Builders Association (MBA) of King and Snohomish Counties, located in Bellevue, Washington, USA, in partnership with King County, Snohomish County, and the City of Seattle, with funding assistance from the Fannie Mae Company, Inc., met for over a year to develop Built Green. The group included builders, remodelers, and architects from the MBA membership, along with representatives of several interested community groups and local government representatives.
We started out with a Mission: To work in partnership
to improve and protect the valuable natural features and
environmental resources within King and Snohomish Counties
to promote safer, healthier building.
The Master Builders Association is proud of the Built Green program. We believe
it to be one of the most comprehensive green building programs in the country.
We sought to develop a program that would encourage everyone to participate,
while still challenging the leading-edge providers. In this, and in achieving
our mission overall, we believe we are successful.
We gratefully acknowledge the green building programs that have laid the foundation for our excellent program - Thanks to Metro Denver Home Builders Association's Built Green program, the first such program in the country, for leading the way and for permission to use the trademarked name Built Green And thanks to the Home Builders Association of Kitsap County and the Clark County Home Builders Association, for allowing their green home building programs – Built Green Kitsap and Built Green of Southwestern Washington - to serve as models for developing our Built Green program.
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How Does Built Green Work?
The Built Green program has been designed for builders and developers by builders and developers to set standards of excellence in King and Snohomish counties. It focuses on actions that can make a significant impact on housing, health, and the environment and are readily "do-able" in King and Snohomish counties today.
Building projects are qualified using a Built
Green checklist organized into six environmentally friendly action categories. Builders use the checklist prior to construction to determine which features to include in the home. When construction is complete, builders send a signed copy of the checklist to the MBA, certifying that the home identified in the application contains the identified features. For the 4- and 5-Star levels the builder or designer must engage a qualified third party to verify the checklist. Based upon that builder certification and verification where applicable, and after reviewing the application, the MBA will award the appropriate Certificate of Merit indicating that the home has achieved a 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-star rating. Features included in the Built Green checklist include:
Green Codes
As a builder, you are required to meet energy, air quality, water efficiency, and stormwater management standards. Built Green recognizes you for meeting these standards.
Site & Water Protection
Built Green offers a variety of common-sense site and water protection and development techniques you can use to earn points and be a "fish-friendly" builder.
Energy Efficiency
Push your project beyond the energy code! Your project will earn points and your customer will enjoy increased comfort and reduced energy bills.
Health and Air Quality
Promote good air quality, before, during, and after construction. Your clients and crews will be both healthier and safer.
Materials Efficiency
Numerous options help you reduce job-site waste, saving both you and your customer money. By using resource-efficient materials, you not only reduce the impact of construction on the environment, you get credit for doing it!
Environmentally Responsible Home Ownership
This category recognizes the importance of making certain the Built Green home stays "green." By integrating homeowner education in your approach you provide your customers with value-added services.
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Join The Built Green Team!
Make sure your home projects earn the Built Green logo. You can join by filling out the Built Green Annual Participation Form. A fee schedule is provided with the form.
The participation
fees for builders and developers vary with whether or not the builder/developer is a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. If you are not a member of the MBA, you can learn more about membership at the MBA's membership pages.
Associates: You can join the program as well. Call the Master Builders Association at (425) 460-8238 or email builtgreen@mbaks.com to find out how you can become part of the Built Green team.
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Enroll Your Projects
Builders, Designers, Remodelers, Developers: If you are already signed up for the Built Green program, use the Built Green Project Enrollment Form as a first step towards qualifying your Built Green projects. Use the Built Green Handbook as a reference and resource guide for achieving the green credits in the checklist. As a Built Green member, you will receive one handbook for the program of your choice: single family, multifamily, remodeling or communities. You can get an idea of what’s possible in any Built Green project by viewing all four of the Built Green checklists.
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