Featured Home

Featured Home
This Kirkland home was recently remodeled with a 3-Star Built Green certification by M1 Dezine. Overall the remodel consisted of upgrading the energy efficiency and look of the house, and installing renewable materials such as bamboo, lyptus and cork. Some of the new features that promote energy efficiency include a remote shade for the skylight to limit solar gain on the west side; removal of the old inefficient wood burning fireplace and replacement with a clean-burning gas fireplace with a blower; and creative design with daylighting to limit dependency on electric lights. To expand on the daylighting and contribute to indoor air quality, light-colored, low-VOC paint was used throughout. A number of renewable, reusable and low-toxic materials were used to add to the sustainable and healthy design. All the carpet was removed and replaced with bamboo flooring. The pantry floor's plastic turf was replaced with cork flooring. The mantel is a reclaimed piece of lumber from Urban Hardwoods, a company that recycles old building materials and makes custom furniture out of trees that would normally be cut down and scrapped. View case study.

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

Events

Visit the Built Green Washington website for green home building courses and events across the State of Washington.

Thursday, October 6 to Sunday October 9
Seattle Home Show 2
The Seattle Home Show 2 will be held at Qwest Field Event Center October 6 to Sunday, October 9. Built Green will have a staffed booth again this year, where we'll answer questions about green building, products and technologies, and provide examples of green materials. We'll also have our website available at a kiosk, and will play a continuous slide show about Built Green with seating for the convenience of visitors. Seattle Home Show supports Built Green, and supports saving gasoline and reducing air pollution! Vehicles with four or more people park free at several Home Show designated lots near the event! Plus, free Metro shuttles are provided from Bellevue, Northgate and south Renton. Show sponsors include James Hardie Building Products and the Master Builders Association. For further information click here.

Thursday, October 13, 2005
Whatcom County Built Green Conference
A fall Green Building Conference held in Bellingham at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. The Building Industry Association of Whatcom County, administrator of the local Built Green program, and Sustainable Connections, an innovative three-year old non-profit business association with over 400 business members, are partnering to present a Green Building Conference on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2005 that will launch our bid to become the Rural Green Building Capital of North America! A great day to come learn about the future of BuiltGreen in Whatcom County. Conference fees are $79 for Sustainable Connections and BIA of Whatcom County members and $99 for non-members. Registration is available by calling the BIA at (360) 671-4247 or online.

Thursday, October 20, 2005
Fritch Mill Tour and Certified Wood Markets Discussion
Please join the Northwest Natural Resource Group for a tour of Fritch Mill and discussion of certified wood markets on Thursday, Oct. 20, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Snohomish. This event is appropriate for all levels of the wood products supply chain, from forest landowners to the design and construction community. RSVP to Sandy Kaylor via email or call (360) 668-5838. Drinks and snacks will be provided.

Friday, October 21 to Sunday, October 23, 2005
Northwest Ecobuilding Guild Annual Member Retreat
This year's Annual Member Retreat will be Friday, Oct. 21 to Sunday, Oct. 23 at Pilgrim Firs Conference Center outside Port Orchard, Washington. This year's theme, "Brown Earth, Blue Sky, Green Building" focuses on how the design and construction of natural and green buildings promotes sustainable living and community. For more information, program schedule, speaker line-up and other details please visit our web site. Register online now - registration ends Monday, Oct. 10!

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

Courses

Visit the Built Green Washington website for green home building courses and events across the state of Washington.

Thursday, October 6, 2005, Olympia
Nuts and Bolts of Built Green™ – Design Strategies
This half-day workshop offers residential builders/designers an opportunity to focus on design-phase strategies and process for green home building. Up front design techniques and good customer communication can often yield the best results in both getting green points and keeping costs down. The course sorts though the many design choices available in the Built Green™ program and provides practical guidance on how to select what's right for a given project. This course will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6 at the Olympia Master Builders in Olympia. The cost of the course is $55 for members of the Master Builders Association and $85 for non-members. Four (4) real estate clock hours and Built Green credit. For further information or to register call (360) 352-7800.

Thursday, October 20, 2005, Seattle
Built Green™ Workshop
King County has one of the strongest markets for green homes, and the market for Built Green™ homes is growing rapidly in Seattle. You can both help meet demand for green homes and position your company as a leader in the market by attending a one-day workshop to learn more about Built Green. This workshop, hosted by the City of Seattle and its partners, will present strategies, resources and tools to help you achieve Built Green certification on your single family, multifamily, remodel or community projects. This course will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Mountaineers Building in Seattle. The cost of the course is $55 and includes food and materials. Built Green credit. For further information or to register, email Lynne Barker, or call her at (206) 684-0806.

Thursday, October 27, 2005, Seattle
Energy Star® Workshop
Northwest Energy Star Homes provides building professionals with a prepackaged program to assist in meeting energy efficiency criteria in the Built Green™ green building standards. In this workshop you will learn about the physics of heat and moisture transport, and about energy efficient lighting and construction techniques. This course will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27 at the Mountaineers Building in Seattle. The cost of the course is $55 and includes food and materials. Built Green credit. For further information or to register, email Lynne Barker, or call her at (206) 684-0806.

Thursday, October 27, 2005, Kirkland
The Business of Natural Yard Care
Learn how your landscape company can make money with natural yard care at this roundtable session designed to show how your landscape company can increase revenues and reduce costs using natural yard care practices. Exchange ideas with other industry leaders and take home practical worksheets that can help you make natural yard care profitable for your own business. This course will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Oct. 27 at Lake Washington Technical College in Kirkland. The roundtable is free and is sponsored by the King County Solid Waste Division, which strives to keep rates low and protect the environment by meeting a zero waste of resources goal by 2030. For further information, send an email or call (206) 352-6402.

Tuesday, November 1, 2005, Bellevue
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, Nov. 1 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 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 or to register, email the MBA University registrar or call (425) 460-8208.

Tuesday, November 1, 2005, Olympia
Nuts and Bolts of Built Green™ – Building Strategies Strategies
This half-day workshop offers residential builders an overview of the Built Green™ rating system and an introduction to basic green building approaches This nuts-and-bolts course is for contractors, designers, developer, project managers and other allied professional. This course will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at the Olympia Master Builders in Olympia. The cost of the course is $55 for members of the Master Builders Association and $85 for non-members. Four (4) Real Estate Clock Hours and Built Green credit. For further information or to register call (360) 352-7800.

Wednesday, November 2, 2005, Bellevue
Building America: The Systems Engineering Approach to Homebuilding
Want to stand out in the crowded homebuilders market? Learn how to build homes that are 30 to 50 percent more energy efficient at little or no increase in cost to you! Topics include key strategies for designing and constructing energy efficient homes, and choosing optimal ductwork, windows, insulation and heating/cooling equipment. This course will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at the MBA Housing Center in Bellevue. The cost of the course is $50 for members of the MBA and $75 for non-members. For further information or to register, email the MBA University registrar or call (425) 460-8208.

Tuesday, November 8, 2005, Bellevue
Built Green™ Sales Boot Camp
Not sure how to effectively tap into the growing market for green homes? A more advanced and practice-intensive course than the previously offered "Tapping the Green in Built Green™ Homes," this course will help perfect your green sales pitch. You'll review the basics of green building; develop and practice your green sales pitch; define your target market and sales approach; and practice with sales scenarios. This course will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the MBA Housing Center in Bellevue. The cost of the course is $100 for members of the MBA and $125 for non-members. Built Green credit. For further information or to register, email the MBA University registrar or call (425) 460-8208.

Contact Built Green

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

Master Builders Association Calendar of Events

If you have news items for this newsletter, please send us an email. Click here for Directions to the Master Builders Association.

Homeowners Go "Green"

ASID Survey Says Homeowners Are Ready to Go "Green"
Six out of 10 U.S. homeowners say they would consider integrating sustainable design practices into a future home improvement project, provided those enhancements were cost-competitive, according to a recent survey commissioned by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). The findings suggest that the market for sustainable, or "green," design products and services for the home may be more extensive than previously reported. There was also some great news for Built Green: six in 10 respondents also said they believed being green certified would increase the value of their home. For more information, visit the ASID Sustainable Design Information Center on the ASID website.

Get your EEM!

Energy Efficient Mortgages
Fannie Mae wants to help green homebuyers conserve energy, save money, and live comfortably with their set of energy efficient mortgages. The Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) is offered through Fannie Mae's Housing and Environment Initiative and promotes the purchase of more energy-efficient homes or the retrofit of existing homes to be more efficient. Fannie Mae's MyCommunityMortgage™ (MCM) is available for low- and moderate-income home buyers who wish to purchase efficient homes. For more information check out this PDF.

New Members

Are you a Built Green member and a member of the Master Builders Association? Then your company will be designated in the Master Builders Association Directory as a Built Green member. Your company is also listed on the Built Green website.

Welcome to our newest member companies!

Aesthetics NW Inc
(425) 330-6967 in Mill Creek

Burnham Insulation and Shelving
(425) 881-2666 in Redmond

Caron Architecture LLC
Modern European Architecture in Pacific NW

Cascadia Consulting Group
Management Consultants for the Environment

Danfoss - ZCP Division
Making Modern Living Possible

Driscoll Architects Inc
(206) 441-7705 in Seattle

EP Air Quality Living Systems
(425) 355-4611 in Everett

Household Power LLC
Produce, Preserve and Sell Your Own Power

Lutron Electronics
Dimmers and Lighting Controls

McBride Construction Resources Inc
The Construction and Restoration Experts

Regency West Development Group
Turning Dreams into Reality

Stonewood Wholesale Corp
(360) 757-7656 in Kent

Sun Construction Inc
(206) 547-5155 in Seattle

White Lightning Development LLC
(425) 828-7848 in Kirkland

View our current members.

New Certifications

Congratulations to Lozier Homes at Woodside LLC for certifying a 3-star Built Green Community Woodside Walk in Mill Creek; to gProjects LLC for certifying four 2-star Built Green Single-Family projects in Seattle.

Member News

Built Green member Well Built Web, who designs Built Green News, and the websites of Built Green and Built Green Washington, has launched a new website of its own.

Greenleaf Construction is featured in an article highlighting "8 Great Ways to Go Green." See the special "green" October issue of Seattle Homes & Lifestyles for great pictures and the specific ways Greenleaf Construction went green in its 4-star Built Green certified project on Capitol Hill.

Recommended Reading

Toward a New Regionalism: Environmental Architecture in the Pacific Northwest
This book by David Miller, a professor of architecture at the University of Washington, focuses on green design in the Pacific Northwest. Toward a New Regionalism provides lessons to architects and students on how sustainable architecture can and should be shaped by the unique conditions of a region.

Thank You Whirlpool

We welcome Whirlpool as an Industry Ally and thank them for renewing their commitment to supporting the Built Green program for another three years! If you are interested in how Whirlpool can help you on your project, email Ed Lindner.

Puget Sound Energy

Puget Sound Energy Sponsors Built Green Conference in Bellingham
Join Puget Sound Energy at the Second Annual Green Building Conference and Tradeshow in Bellingham. The conference will offer six panel presentations, a team oriented work session, a keynote address and a tradeshow featuring two dozen organizations offering high quality green building materials and services.

Attendees will benefit from the latest research case studies and other information related to commercial and residential green development. PSE will be the presenting sponsor and will be on hand to discuss Certified Energy Star® Homes as well as their rebate programs for Energy Star qualified CFL lighting and appliances.

The conference will be held at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal at 355 Harris Ave. in Fairhaven on Thursday, Oct. 13. Activities begin at 8:30am with registration, breakfast and the opening of the trade show. A warm welcome and speakers begin at 9 a.m. A lunch and afternoon snack is also included with the conference fee. The conference will end at 5 p.m., followed by the reception and public opening of the Green Building Trade Show. All activities will close at 7 p.m.

Conference fees are $79 for Sustainable Connections and BIA of Whatcom County members and $99 for non-members. Registration is available by calling the BIA at (360) 671-4247 or online by visiting www.SustainableConnections.org.

King County

Ban on Mercury Products in the garbage and at transfer stations in King County
As of October 1st, King County residents and businesses can no longer put certain mercury-containing products - including thermostats - in the garbage or take them to a transfer station for disposal. This ban is also in effect in Seattle. Violators will be notified and could be liable for fines.

When mercury is thrown away, it can escape into the environment where it contaminates our water and the fish we eat. In order to prevent this, residents and contractors need to safely recycle thermostats and other mercury-containing devices.

In response to this need, King County has set up a recycling system with the Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC). The system places recycling bins with contractors and HVAC suppliers. While there is a one-time fee of $15 to receive a bin, King County will pay this fee for the first twenty contractors who call the number below. Once the recycling bin is full, it is sent at no charge to TRC where the thermostats are properly recycled. A replacement bin is then mailed back.

There are currently 24 suppliers in King County collecting thermostats through the TRC program. View a complete list of participating recyclers online. To find out how to sign up for your own bin, email Gail Savina or call her at (206) 263-3062.

Snohomish County

Sustainable Development Task Force
The Sustainable Development Task Force is hosting a brown bag event titled "Streamlining the Permit Process while Encouraging Sustainable Development" on Wednesday, Oct. 26. Do you wish to make your properties more desirable to potential developers? Are you interested in streamlining your permit process? Do you wish you could incorporate more sustainable development strategies into your projects? Well then, the Planned Action EIS process is for you. Come learn about the process and how you can benefit. This brown bag event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the PUD Training Center in Everett. For more information or to RSVP, call Terri Hooper at (425) 783-8275. This forum offers an excellent venue for networking and to meet the Taskforce and learn about our other projects and activities.

NOTE: If you are interested in hosting the portable, professionally designed information kiosk or interested in joining the task force, please call Chris Fate at (425) 783-8274. The Sustainable Development Taskforce Steering Committee meets the third Friday of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the EDC Offices at 728 134th St SW in Everett. Directions

Job Openings

Built Green™ Director
The Built Green program at the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties is looking for a director. The purpose of the director is to oversee program development, administration and promotion, and to coordinate program outreach, publicity and sponsorships of Built Green. The director is assisted by and receives guidance from a steering committee and an executive committee on substantive policy decisions, program changes, and important new developments, and acts as a liaison between general MBA membership and the committee. The director will initiate, manage and coordinate various workshops, trainings, and special program events. The Built Green Director reports directly to the MBA Executive Officer and supervises activities of the Built Green Assistant.

Education/Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in management, architecture, engineering, business, education or related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Knowledge of green building

Qualifications/Skills Recommended

• Basic knowledge of green building and passion for the program's mission
• Willingness to proactively seek program funding and understanding of how to leverage resources
• Ability to facilitate groups and work well in a group environment
• Ability to work with a diverse population
• Communicates clearly and displays excellent writing and speaking skills
• Self-motivated, organized, and detail-oriented.

Please submit cover letter and resume to: Lynda Hester via email or by post mail at 335 116th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA 98004.

Environmental Consulting Firm Opening
Environmental consulting firm, and Built Green member company, Cascadia Consulting is looking for dynamic, self-motivated individuals with background in one or more of the following: pollution prevention, water conservation, surface water management or sustainable building. Outreach skills and related professional experience desired; must possess excellent interpersonal, analytic, verbal, and writing skills. Please email resume and letter of interest.