 Letter from the Director |
Residential Rainwater Catchment Now Allowed Statewide Without Permit
For years we have been encouraging green builders to install rainwater catchment systems such as cisterns and rain barrels in the limited number of jurisdictions that would allow such practices. Unfortunately, few jurisdictions allowed rainwater catchment, a strategy used to reduce the use of potable water for watering landscaping in summer months, due to an un-enforced state law prohibiting this practice. Finally, that is about to change. On Friday, Oct. 9, Department of Ecology Director Jay Manning signed a policy statement allowing the diversion and capture of rainwater on residential homes without a water rights permit.
The City of Seattle has been permitting rainwater harvest for a number of years, but this policy statement will open the door for other King County cities to begin allowing this practice as well. Despite the ruling, it may take these cities some time to work these practices into their permit process and determine when and how to permit these systems.
This is a huge win for low impact development advocates. The capture of rainwater reduces run-off into our stormwater systems and sequesters water on residential sites for a longer period of time, which will have a net positive impact on the environmental integrity of our watersheds and ecosystems.
Part of the policy statement reserved the right for the Department of Ecology to regulate such systems if they become so widely used that they harm stream flows or existing water rights. If rainwater catchment because so widely used that this becomes an issue, that will truly be a great problem to have, and will mean our communities much more closely resemble the environmental performance of those sites pre-development.
-- Aaron Adelstein
| 2010 BG Conference |
Built Green Members' Conference Committee
Thursday, Dec. 17, Bellevue
The second in a series of three meetings, Built Green welcomes its members to get involved in the upcoming 2010 Built Green Conference. Join us for a discussion on programming, promotion and what Built Green members would like to see in March 2010. This is your opportunity to help make this conference the best yet! So come with ideas and enjoy a roundtable conversation with fellow members as well as Built Green and Master Builders Association staff. The meeting will start at 10 a.m. and is open to all members.
Contact Events@mbaks.com for more information
| Job Postings |
GreenWorks Realty, an innovative leader in the green building and real estate industry, is seeking a Managing Broker & Sales Manager. For the complete job description and application instructions click here.
| Events |
Tour the Zero Energy Idea House
Saturdays and Sundays until Nov. 8, Bellevue
Take a self-guided tour through one of the most innovative and green homes in Washington. The Zero Energy Idea House is designed to show that smart choices can result in a home that minimizes energy use while maximizing comfort and style. The 1,630-square-foot home aims to combine energy generation and conservation techniques to result in total energy bills of less than $40/month! Some features of the home include: rooftop solar panels, wind turbine, vegetated roof, "living" retention wall, SIP construction, eco-friendly finishes, and much more.
For more information visit the website. For a map and directions, click here.
| Classes |
Classes listed below are approved workshops for fulfilling the annual Built Green education requirement for certifying projects.
Solar Home Design Class
Saturday, Nov. 7, Shoreline Community College, Shoreline
The class will cover solar resource, solar gain, site assessment and feasibility for basic home energy types, systems, and characteristics. The emphasis will be on practical design issues including system types, characteristics, sizing, heat storage, construction details, efficiencies and costs. Green building materials and systems are discussed throughout.
To register, visit the website.
Introduction to Built Green®
Tuesday, Nov. 10, MBA Housing Center, Bellevue
This seminar provides an introduction to the Built Green program from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 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.
RainWise: Installing Rain Gardens
Training for Contractors and Design Professionals Working in Seattle
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, NHS Hall, UW Center for Urban Horticulture, Seattle
Starting in 2010, the City of Seattle will offer rebates to property owners to disconnect roof downspouts from the combined sewer system, and direct runoff into cisterns or rain gardens to minimize sewer overflow during rainstorms. Part of a two class series, this session will prepare contactors and design/build professionals to work with owners to locate and size rain gardens and ensure they meet the City's requirements for rebates on construction costs. This class and the sequential class are prerequisites for those who want to participate in Seattle's new RainWise rebate program.
This session will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is free for building and landscape professionals, lunch included. Pre-registration is still required.
For more information and to register, visit the website.
Critical Areas 202
Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, MBA Housing Center, Bellevue
A follow up course to Critical Areas 101, this session provides a deeper look at what constitutes a critical area, the current science and standards used to designate them and what your options are for mitigation of these designated areas. You will gain a detailed understanding of the science behind wetland, geologic, and environmental critical areas, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas and information on eliminating critical areas, reducing buffers and setbacks. You will also be updated on the latest critical areas and related regulatory developments that can impact development including many of the most recent endangered species actions that have been taken by the National Marine Fisheries Service and related actions that have been implemented by private environmental groups (citizens' lawsuits). This session will run from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will cost $65 for Master Builders Association members / $85 for non-members.
For more information and to register, visit the website.
RainWise: Installing Cisterns
Training for Contractors and Design Professionals Working in Seattle
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, NHS Hall, UW Center for Urban Horticulture, Seattle
Starting in 2010, the City of Seattle will offer rebates to property owners to disconnect roof downspouts from the combined sewer system, and direct runoff into cisterns or rain gardens to minimize sewer overflow during rainstorms. Part of a two class series, this session will prepare contactors and design/build professionals to work with owners to install cisterns and ensure they meet the city's requirements for rebates on construction costs. This class and the previous class are prerequisites for those who want to participate in Seattle's new RainWise rebate program.
This session will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is free for building and landscape professionals, lunch included. Pre-registration is still required.
For more information and to register, visit the website.
Life Cycle Assessment – Doing Good vs. Feeling Good Environmentalism: Why it ain't always easy being green
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, South Seattle Community College Georgetown Campus, Building C, Room C110
What's the difference between "green-washing" and true sustainability? Speaker Rita Schenck from the Institute for Environmental Research and Education will help you explore and answer these questions. The Construction Center of Excellence (CCE) has partnered with area colleges 100 organizations to bring you this exciting educational opportunity. This is one class in a 6-part lecture series focuses on topics that every construction professional needs to understand to take the guesswork out of green. The session will begin at 7 p.m., to register visit the CCE website or contact Shana Peschek by email, or call (425) 235-2352 x2217.
Getting the Ducts Inside:
Upcoming Code Changes for Ducts
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, MBA Housing Center, Bellevue
This program presented in partnership with Northwest Energy Star will provide valuable information about upcoming code changes that will require all new homes to have their duct systems properly sealed and performance tested. We will also discuss the benefits of bringing central forced air system duct work within the conditioned envelope - including financial incentives.
For more information and to register, visit the website.
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Built
Green | Phone
(425) 460-8238 | BuiltGreen,
335 116th Avenue SE, Bellevue WA 98004
