 Feature |
Built Green® Announces Fall 2008 Built Green Incentive Recipients!
Five local companies will take a lead in local green building, thanks to the 2008 Built Green Incentive program. The incentives were awarded for new construction projects ranging from a single family home, townhome projects and larger multifamily developments. The funding ranged from $5,000 to $15,000 for each project with a total of $42,000 awarded.
The Built Green Incentive was developed by the Master Builders Association's Built Green program to encourage environmentally motivated companies to try enhanced green building techniques in their building projects. The Built Green Incentive is funded by grants from King County and Seattle Public Utilities both of whom are committed to market transformation and the support of local high-level green building projects.
The incentive was targeted at builders interested in developing projects that will meet the Built Green 4 or 5-Star certification levels. In the Built Green program, 4 and 5-Star projects meet superior environmental standards, including Energy Star® certification, and must be independently verified. The incentives will help offset some of those certification costs, which will include performance testing. Based on the past nine years of certifying local projects, Built Green has found that once a builder incorporates these advanced techniques into their building practices, that builder is much more likely to continue to incorporate them in future projects.
The incentive was targeted at builders interested in developing projects that will meet the Built Green 4 or 5-Star certification levels. In the Built Green program, 4 and 5-Star projects meet superior environmental standards, including Energy Star® certification, and must be independently verified. The incentives will help offset some of those certification costs, which will include performance testing. Based on the past nine years of certifying local projects, Built Green has found that once a builder incorporates these advanced techniques into their building practices, that builder is much more likely to continue to incorporate them in future projects.
Competition for the incentives was fierce and made for some difficult decisions by the funding committee. Of the 20 projects that applied for funding, the following five were selected. The recipients of the 2008 Built Green Incentive by project category are:
- 5-Star Level, Single Home
- Eggen Family - Eggen Single-Family Residence, Vashon
- 310 Design and Fabrication - Binkley-James House, Seattle
- Skov Family - Skov-Sanscrainte House, Seattle
- 4-Star Level, Single-family 10 Units or more
- YS Development, LLC - Rose Hill Heights Community Development, Redmond
- 5-Star Level, Multifamily 10 Units or more
- Sedona Holdings, LLC - Sedona, Seattle
For more information on the requirements to certify a project at the 4 and 5-star levels within the Built Green program, visit the checklist section of the website. In addition to the numerous requirements established within the checklist, there were additional requirements added specifically for the Built Green Incentive that can be viewed here.
These projects will ultimately serve as quality examples of innovative ways in which we can build high performance homes that are attractive and cost effective. Please stay tuned to the Built Green Incentive website for pictures and updates as the projects are currently underway!
The funding committee is currently assessing the first two rounds of incentives and discussing the possibility of opening a new application period in the Fall of 2009. If you are interested in applying or would like more information on the Built Green Incentive application criteria and requirements, please visit the website.
Sponsored by:
| Letter from the Director |
Announcing 2009's Built Green Demonstration and Master Builders Centennial Legacy Project - Wet Lab II at The Mercer Slough Environmental Learning Center
Over the years Built Green has demonstrated its community and industry leadership through participation in demonstration projects. These projects, such as the Built Green Idea House in 2004 and the Built Green Home at Suncadia in 2006 help showcase the products and services of our members, as well as provide a launching pad for innovative green building practices. So it is with great excitement and anticipation that we embark upon what may be our most ambitious demonstration project yet, the Master Builders Association’s Centennial Legacy Project, a project that will ultimately be donated to the Mercer Slough Environmental Learning Center to help teach our region's children about environmental issues and stewardship.
To celebrate the Master Builders Association's 100-year anniversary, we have committed to building the fourth out of five buildings on the site, a building that will ultimately become the 5-Star certified Wet Lab II. The groundbreaking for the project scheduled for early June and the build will be completed for donation by December 2009. The site will host over 100,000 visitors annually, both school age students and adults alike, and will be a focus of much of our media activity in the coming year.
As members of Built Green® and the greater Puget sound green building community, we are asking for your help in bringing this project to reality. We are currently seeking donations of time, materials, services from building and material supply firms, and will recognize everyone involved in the project through media efforts and a permanent plaque on the building. We are proud to undertake such a meaningful and lasting public service project to commemorate 100 years of service to our community. Please contact us if you or your company is interested in participating in the project, and keep an eye out for further opportunities throughout the summer.
Aaron Adelstein
| Green Building News |
City of Seattle Green Building Initiative: Saving Energy for Homes and Businesses
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announced on April 22, 2009, a multi-tiered strategy to save energy and reduce the climate change impacts of Seattle's buildings and homes. Energy use in residences and other buildings accounts for 21 percent of Seattle's carbon footprint. By 2020, the Green Building Capital Initiative will increase the efficiency of existing buildings by 20 percent, and raise the energy performance of new buildings and major retrofits to a level consistent with the 2030 Challenge goals. For the full story click here.
Green Building: Jobs of the Future
Washington State Department of Ecology video on green building jobs in this region and the future role of green building jobs in our economy.
| Events |
Exploring Energy & Design: Smart Solutions For The Built Environment
Wednesday, May 13, Town Hall, Seattle
Presented by Alan Thein Durning and Jason F. McLennan. As the prospect of global economic crisis hits home, there is hope. The work being done to combat climate change through smart community design, green building and energy research gives communities the opportunity to respond to economic crisis with common sense solutions. This seminar will highlight work being done right here in our backyard, and explain what needs to be done in the future to ensure the sustainability of our region. For more information and to register, click here.
Living Green Series - EcoCool Remodel Tool
Wednesday, May 20, Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, Bellevue
Looking for a convenient way to learn about how to make your home more green? Working on a green remodel? King County's new EcoCool Remodel Tool provides a wealth of green remodeling information in one convenient online resource tool. Patti Southard will demonstrate the Remodel Tool, and answer green remodel questions. King County's EcoConsumor Program educates residents on how to reduce their environmental impact through their purchasing decisions. This free workshop will take place from 7 to 9 p.m.
Strategies for Sustainability: Best Practices
Tuesday, May 26, Northwest Environmental Training Center, Seattle
Organizations and communities need to define a sustainability strategy, and there is no need to start from scratch. For managers, change agents and community leaders this is an excellent opportunity to be exposed to a variety of methods and tools. Participants will leave with an expanded capacity to facilitate sustainability. This "Learning Lab" will provide the opportunity for participants to diagnose and test strategies and case studies for their own specific situation. This course will present a spectrum of well-known and tested sustainability strategies essential for anyone involved in the sustainability movement.
Making Sustainability Stick - Strategies for Sustainability
Wednesday May 27, Northwest Environmental Training Center, Seattle
This course will provide methods, strategies and tools to implement sustainable principles and practices in an organization or community. Individuals and teams involved, or hoping to be involved, in implementing sustainability initiatives will benefit from the information and resources presented in this course. There will be a strong focus on processes that make sustainability initiatives stick.
Next Generation Green Building Materials, Part 2
Wednesday, May 27, Phinney Neighborhood Center, Seattle
Come join the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild on Wednesday, May 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. to hear presenter Benjamin Cook discuss the next generation of green building materials. You may remember Part 1 from 2008. Come and learn about the latest green building products from this engaging and fast talking chemist. For more information visit the web site.
| Classes |
Classes listed below are approved workshops for fulfilling the annual Built Green education requirement for certifying projects.
Introduction to Built Green®
Tuesday, June 9, MBA Housing Center, Bellevue
This seminar provides an introduction to the Built Green program from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9 at the MBA Housing Center, 335 116th Ave. SE in Bellevue. Learn how to certify a project and use the checklist, how to join, how the program works and other resources. The seminar presents examples of projects and covers how to fill out the Built Green checklist. This orientation has a cost of $30 and is required in order to certify homes as Built Green. To register, contact the MBA University registrar at education@mbaks.com or go online.
High Performance Homes: The Do's Don'ts and Why's with Mark LaLiberte
Tuesday, May 12 MBA Housing Center, Bellevue
Instructor Mark LaLiberte will provide you with the training necessary to identify common construction details that can lead to moisture problems, and contribute to indoor air quality concerns and excessive energy consumption. His presentation is designed to teach you how to correct them before they become customer service problems. Learn to enhance your company's reputation by being the expert. The workshop format will consist of two hours of training and two hours of round table question-and-answer time.
Cost: $30 for Members/$50 for Non-Members
For more information on the class and to register please click here
The RE Store: Green Roof Workshop
Saturday, May 16, Seattle
Time: Noon to 5 p.m.
Cost: $25.00
Learn about the dozens of benefits that a green roof can add to any sized building, from doghouses to warehouses. Benefits include: stormwater mitigation, longer roof lifespan, temperature/heat island regulation, insulation, habitat benefits, water and air purification and much more. Watch a real installation on a doghouse that will be given to one lucky workshop participant!
Patrick Carey is director of the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild's Green Roof Project. He is also a trainer for the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Green Roof Course series and principal of Hadj Design, a green roof design-build company.
Contact Jason Darling to register.
Green Advantage Training and Certification with David Johnston
Tuesday, June 23, MBA Housing Center, Bellevue
Renowned green building consultant and teacher David Johnston will present the Green Advantage® Training and Certification. This workshop features state-of-the-art instruction on proven residential and commercial green building techniques and approaches. It provides real world, practical construction and marketing instruction in the areas of site selection, energy conservation as it applies to framing, insulation, windows, water heating, appliances, heating and cooling, resource conservation and indoor air quality. It also addresses marketing these green advantages.
For more information on and to register, click here.
| King County |
 King County GreenTools Team gets a new member
Ric Cochrane is joining the GreenTools team as a program manager. Ric is a Fulbright Fellow and received master degrees in both Public Administration and Public Planning from the University of Washington. At GreenTools, Ric will be managing the grants program and providing green building assistance to King County cities and projects. You can reach him by email.
| Puget Sound Energy |
Western Washington Construction Projects Receive $650,000 in Conservation Grants
Puget Sound Energy's recently launched energy efficiency grant program for new multifamily construction projects has signed its first agreements totaling almost $650,000 with six developers. Avalon Towers, Meydenbauer Apartments and Metro 112 in Bellevue, Bakhita Gardens and Hearthstone on Woodlawn in Seattle and Lancaster Townhomes in Olympia were awarded the first of the PSE program's grants, worth a total of more than $550,000 for electricity-saving and more than $90,000 for natural gas-saving incentives to be incorporated into their design and construction.
PSE's Multifamily New Construction program is providing the developers with financial incentives packaged into single grants, technical information and support for the construction of their new energy-efficient multifamily housing complexes. The program funding incentives help offset the developers' cost to upgrade to ENERGY STAR® appliances and lighting, enhance window efficiency and to install high efficiency equipment used for space and water heating, both in the residential units and common areas.
By encouraging developers to account for energy efficiency measures during the design and construction phase, the PSE program ensures that the projects they are building use energy wisely, lowering utility bills to the property owner and prospective residents. The measures also complement action items on the Built Green® multifamily checklist.
Since the program's launch, nearly 50 grant applications have been received from throughout PSE's 11-county electric and natural gas service areas to construct residential, market-rate, affordable housing and/or senior housing units. The application process is ongoing, and the remaining applications are still being reviewed. After the initial application is made, PSE conducts project evaluations and reviews grant proposals with the applicants before offering a final grant agreement to selected applicants. Many current multifamily development projects still have the opportunity to qualify.
It is anticipated that the program will produce more than 1.5 million kilowatt hours of electric savings and nearly 20,000 therms of natural gas savings in 2009 or the equivalent of the electricity needed to power 125 homes and natural gas for 25 homes.
For more information about the Multifamily New Construction program and how to apply, visit PSE.com or call a PSE Energy Advisor at 1-800-562-1482.
By Malcolm McCulloch
Multifamily New Construction Program Manager for PSE
| Contact Built Green |
 Master
Builders Association
335 - 116th Avenue SE
Bellevue, WA 98004
P: (425) 460-8238
F: (425) 646-5985
builtgreen@mbaks.com
www.builtgreen.net
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