Featured Home

The View from the Top

A Three-Star Built Green mountain residence built by Hughes Building Company is all about the views – outside and inside. Outside are the mountains, trees, sky. Inside, this finely detailed luxury home features views of beautiful, sustainable materials – durable, low-toxic and low-maintenance materials including granite and marble surfaces and flooring, hardwood flooring combined with stone, marble and tile. The interior views are enhanced by natural daylighting and compact fluorescent lighting. Energy-saving features include the installation of Energy Star appliances. Hughes says it uses every opportunity to enhance the aesthetics, optimize durability and protect our natural resources with every home they build – that’s why they choose Built Green. Read more on the Case Studies page.

To see other previously featured virtual tours, click here. Virtual tours created by Northwest Property Imaging.

New Members

Advanced Cleaning Services
Making your life easier
(425) 641-5505

Bamboo Hardwoods Inc.
Bamboo flooring, furniture, fences and bamboo houses

Duren Homes
Finely crafted homes for Seattle and the Eastside

Ford of Bellevue
Get your business & commercial needs met at Prestige Ford of Bellevue

gProjects LLC
Contemporary homes with a conscience

Greener Lifestyles
Natural home furnishing, natural building materials

Stephen Kern Architect
Architectural design and planning

Marilyn's Recycle Inc.
Residential jobsite recycling

Mesh Design Studio
Dedicated to creating unique and charismatic environments that continually inspire the people who live and work within them

Nandemoya Inc.
Commercial and residential property maintenance, repair, remodeling and renovations

National Air Technologies
Quality and performance in the indoor air quality & duct cleaning industry

Norberry Tile
An asset to Seattle's interior design and building community with materials chosen specifically for the region's style and climate

Prestige Custom Builders, Inc.
An environmentally committed residential remodeling and new custom construction firm, integrating sustainable construction practices in their high-quality, long-lasting buildings

Triple D Construction Inc.
(425) 451-1165

Ventilation Systems Inc.
Indoor air quality solutions

Washington State Department of Ecology
Protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment, and promote the wise management of our air, land and water

View our current members.

Events

Pervious concrete

Friday, May 13
Pervious Concrete Demonstration
The Cadman Building Materials Store will be hosting a demonstration on pervious pavements at noon on Friday, May 13 at 18816 NE 80th St. in Redmond. The use of pervious products is quickly gaining momentum as a way of protecting our streams and water quality as a green product. The demonstration area will also be a working sample as it will serve as the new parking area for our store and will incorporate more than 40 cubic yards of paving. Registration and attendance is free. RSVP to Scott Thompson by Wednesday, May 11 at (425) 961-7291, or via email. Directions.

Wednesday, May 18
Low Impact Development in Puget Sound: Experiences and practices in residential development
During this one-day accredited seminar at the Master Builders Association, a diverse range of professionals will share their low impact development (LID) experiences. Instead of a theoretical discussion, expect balanced and realistic perspectives on the integration of LID techniques into residential communities. Key questions remain about this evolving development practice and its value to consumers, the environment, and the bottom line. Gain a broader understanding of the merits or challenges of using low impact development techniques to create livable communities. Faculty includes principals from CamWest; Snohomish County; Hillis, Clark, Martin and Peterson law offices; Weber + Thompson Architects; Associated Earth Sciences; Triad Associates;and Washington State University. The seminar will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18 at the MBA Housing Center. For further information and to register, contact Lorman Education Services at (888) 678-5565 or visit the website and enter seminar id 345355 in the Express Registration box. Please mention priority code 17130 when registering. Directions to MBA.

Thursday, June 9
4th Annual Seattle BEST Awards Ceremony (website) will feature keynote Speaker Dr. Michael Braungart on Thursday, June 9 from 7:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Shilshole Bay Beach Club in Seattle. The cost of $30 includes breakfast. Discover who won this year's Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Awards and hear Dr. Braungart, co-author of Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. For further information contact (206) 389-7302 or by email.

MBA Calendar of Events is posted at the bottom left of the homepage. For more information, contact James Cadungug at (425) 460-8213.

Preparing for Drought

Lifestyles Landscapes Project

Preparing a Landscape for Drought
Built Green member company Lifestyle Landscapes offers a few simple steps to reduce the amount of water required to keep your landscape looking its best. Being cautious about water usage in the garden is especially important given the potential shift to a dryer weather pattern in our region.

Irrigation
Ensure that your irrigation system is serviced and operating efficiently. Irrigation systems should be properly prepared for winter and spring each year to prevent against leaks and ensure optimal water coverage. If you do not have an underground system, use soaker hoses or sprinklers. Avoid watering with a hand-held hose as it is least effective.

Watering
Watering early in the day minimizes evaporation and discourages disease by allowing plants to dry thoroughly before cool evening temperatures. Water slowly for longer periods rather than frequent, shorter cycles as this minimizes run-off. Most lawns require one watering session a week, totaling one inch of water.

Water Saving Measures for Lawns and Planting Beds

• Eliminate weeds from planting beds frequently as they compete with desirable plants for water and nutrients.
• Apply mulch regularly as it will help soil retain moisture and discourage weed growth.
• Consider allowing lawns with lower traffic to go dormant in the summer months. Water deeply once each rainless month and grass will return in the fall.
• Allow lawn clippings to remain on the lawn to allow for natural fertilization and to help grass retain moisture.
• Keep in mind that established plants, especially when placed in the right location, require little to no watering.

The information is provided by Built Green member Lifestyle Landscapes. For more ideas click here.

From the Director

Governor Signs Bill Requiring Green Building

Green Building Required for Washington State Projects
In March, Washington became the first state in the nation to have a green building requirement for public buildings, followed closely by Michigan in April. This new Washington law requires all new state buildings bigger than 5,000 square feet meet US Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification. This means that major facility projects of public agencies receiving any funding in a state capital budget must be designed, constructed, and certified using the LEED program.

Similar to Built Green, but for commercial buildings, the LEED rating system takes into account a building’s materials, lighting, heating and cooling systems, water efficiency, landscaping, emissions reduction and other innovative building elements. The new law was modeled after the City of Seattle's 2000 green building policy, which calls for new city-funded buildings or renovations to meet LEED Silver standards.

The LEED product was developed by the USGBC, a consortium of businesses and organizations working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Average costs for obtaining LEED in all commercial building types ranges from zero to 8.5 percent more than conventional building, according to a recent study (pdf), but costs are expected to be recovered and lessened in the long term due to energy savings and increased worker productivity.

You can read how the legislative votes stacked up at Washington Votes.

Robin Rogers, Program Director

Product Spotlight

Mutual Materials' TurfStone pavers are an interlocking, permeable system, which provide an alternative solution to the problem of permanently destroying green space that is sometimes used for parking heavy vehicles such as boats and RVs. With 40 percent open areas, TurfStone allows ground cover to grow through, while providing the necessary structural strength for light and heavy traffic. TurfStone also provides excellent erosion control and soil stabilization to slopes, embankments and low flow channels.

For information on how to list your "green" products* in this space, please contact MBA Sales & Marketing Director Pam Worner by phone at (425) 460-8217, or via email.
*Products must be able to meet at least one Built Green credit (see the four Built Green checklists on our website) to qualify, and the company must be a member-in-good-standing of Built Green.

Green Power

Wind or Solar: Local, renewable energy sources

Whether you’re buying power for a residence or a business, you can purchase green power for a little extra each month to support renewable energy. Our member utilities both offer green power programs. Puget Sound Energy’s Green Power Program offers options that start at four dollars per month, which allows PSE to buy 200-kilowatt hours of energy from renewable sources here in the Northwest. More than 14,000 residential and commercial customers are purchasing green power through PSE – enough to serve more than 3,800 homes. Snohomish PUD’s Planet Power Program is sold in 150 kWh blocks at a cost of $3 per month (in addition to your normal electric bill). To learn more, visit the PSE website or PUD website.

Flower Power

The next time you're near the Master Builders Association offices in Bellevue, take a walk in the park. Less than a half-mile up the hill from our building is the spectacular Bellevue Botanical Garden. Thirty-six acres of display gardens, woodlands, meadows and wetlands provide both aesthetic and educational pursuits, and water-wise gardens can help you plan your next Built Green landscaping project or meet the credits in the site and water section of the checklist. From 7:30 a.m. to dusk, this urban oasis is available for wandering, sitting or studying at 12001 Main St. Directions.

BG Member News

Katherine Morgan and Kathleen O’Brien

O'Brien Wins Award
Kathleen O'Brien of O'Brien & Company was presented the 2005 Earth Day Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sustainable Building from Kitsap County. O'Brien specializes in sustainable design-build consulting, education, and research. She developed five Built Green programs in Washington State, Hawaii and California.

ParDee Sales
"the oldest lumberyard in Bellevue," has lost one of its most enduring team members: Bill Craig retired after 37 years with ParDee. Good luck, Bill!

Courses

See the MBA University Spring Education Catalog for a Full List of MBAU Courses. Email or call (425) 460-8238 for information or to register.

Tuesday, May 10
Introduction to Built Green
This free seminar provides an introduction to the Built Green™ program from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 10 at the MBA Housing Center in Bellevue. Learn how to certify a project, find out what "green" means, how the Built Green program works, and other resources. The seminar presents examples of other projects and covers how to fill out the Built Green checklist. This seminar fulfills the course requirement to certify homes as Built Green. For further information contact (425) 460-8238 or by email.

Tuesday, May 10
Construction Workforce Conference
Renton Technical College is offering a Green Building Trends session as part of its Construction Workforce Conference on Tuesday, May 10 from 10:10 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. For further information contact (425) 235-5842 or by email.

Various Dates
Introduction to Green Remodeling
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is offering free green home remodeling classes in neighborhoods around Seattle. SPU’s green home remodel guides are available online.

• Saturday, May 14 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Northeast Library
• Monday, May 16 from 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at University Library
• Saturday, May 28 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Capitol Hill Library
• Saturday, June 11 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at University Library

Tuesday, May 10
Green Home Remodel 6 Class Series
"Supergreen: Pushing the Envelope on Green Home Design" This? in-depth Seminar will be held at the Central Library Auditorium, 1000 Fourth Ave, in downtown Seattle from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For more information, see this website. RSVP and questions can be emailed to Thor Peterson.

Energy Star Sweepstakes

Are your homeowners or homebuyers looking for new appliances to go with their new home purchase or remodel? If so, they have a chance to win a three-piece suite of Energy Star appliances from the Northwest Energy Star. To learn more click here.

Snohomish County

New kiosk will be displayed in various locations around the county

Sustainable Development Task Force
The Task Force introduces an educational kiosk to promote sustainable development features site, materials, water and energy information. The kiosk is portable, designed to move around to different locations every month or so. Companies, cities and organizations can sponsor a panel to promote sustainable development technologies and strategies that are most important to them. If you are interested in hosting the kiosk or sponsoring panel please call Chris Fate at (425) 783-8274.

Snohomish PUD

Snohomish PUD Promotes Lighting Conversions:
Improved Quality and Reduced Costs
Snohomish County PUD encourages its business customers to make lighting changes in their commercial or industrial facilities. The conversions not only improve lighting quality but help save money. When customers switch from metal halide or incandescent lights to state-of-the-art T8 or T5 fluorescent lights they can reduce lighting system costs by 30 to 50 percent or more.

With PUD incentive funds, which cover up to 70 percent of the project cost, the payback on a lighting project of this type is often less than two years. Other benefits include reduced glare, elimination of light flickering and an improved working environment. For more details, businesses can contact PUD Energy Services at (425) 783-1711.

Further Reading

Check out the May issue of Northwest Reporter, the official publication of the Seattle-King County Association of Realtors® and the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. It’s got some great articles about marketing and selling Built Green homes, sustainable building and development, and the Built Green conference keynote speech!

The Prosperity Partnership is working to create 100,000 new jobs in our region by 2010; it recently conducted a study that identified five initial cluster areas for providing the most opportunity for future economic growth. One of the five is Environment and Alternative Energy. Read more...

Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls
A new book introduces practical techniques in installing green roofs and walls that reduce pollution and run-off, and also help insulate and reduce the maintenance needs of buildings. You can also check out the Northwest Ecobuilding Guild’s eco-roof project.

Rebuilt Green
Here is the story of one conservation organization – Ecotrust in Portland, Oregon – and its revitalization of a neglected, century-old warehouse into a state-of-the-art, 70,000 square foot home to a diverse array of retailers, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.

Contact Built Green

Master Builders Association
335 - 116th Avenue SE
Bellevue, WA 98004
Directions
Phone (425) 460-8238
Fax (425) 646-5985
builtgreen@mbaks.com

MBA Calendar of Events

If you have news items for this newsletter, please send us an email.