Featured Home

This month's featured home is an infill townhome project at 1521 19th Ave on Capitol Hill in Seattle. Developed by G-Projects LLC these Built Green 3-Star townhomes feature cutting edge design coupled with the use of a wide variety of green finish materials. Building on infill sites takes advantage of existing infrastructure and reduces sprawl, so the project was green based on its location right from the start. To limit storm-water runoff G-Projects used pervious materials for at least one third of the total driveway, walkway and patio areas. Energy features included a centrally located heating system inside the heated space, and the used clerestory for natural lighting. Indoor air quality measures included the use of exterior grade plywood, low toxic finishes and adhesives, and an installation of whole house fans. The townhomes also boast no carpet showing a true commitment to promoting healthy indoor air. What really sets this project apart is the contemporary design and use of attractive environmentally friendly finish materials. G-Projects used FSC Certified wood products, cork, bamboo, stained concrete and I-beams in achieving their totally unique signature design aesthetic. To finish off the townhomes, the exterior was clad in a 50-year siding product to ensure low maintenance and upkeep of the properties.

To see other previously featured virtual tours, click here.

Photographs by Jeff Case Photographic.

New Members

Are you a Built Green member and a member of the Master Builders Association? Then your company is designated with a small green tree on the Master Builders Association website as a Built Green member. Your company is also listed on the Built Green website.

Welcome to our newest member companies!

Absher Construction Co
(206) 223-9557 in Puyallup

The Archstone Co LLC
Urban Development. Design-Build Contractor.
(206) 283-2279 in Seattle

Brown & White Landscaping
Making the world more beautiful one yard at a time!
(425) 681-9323 in Bellevue

Colson & Colson
(503) 428-4397 in Seattle

Counter-Tech, Inc.
Committed To Great Service
(425) 486-8629 in Woodinville

Greacen Construction Inc
We always build more than just a home.
(425) 746-6440 in Bellevue

Michel Construction Inc
Building High End Residences and Condos in Edmonds.
(425) 776-2211 in Edmonds

Rick Burnstead Construction
Creating Memories
(425) 454-1900 in Bellevue

Ring Industrial Group LP
The Simple Answer To All Your Drainage Problems.
(800) 649-0253 in Oakland, TN

Schneider Homes Inc
Tailored Just For You.
(206) 248-2471 in Tukwila

Windows Doors & More Inc
(206) 782-1011 in Seattle

New Certifications

Congratulations to The Cottage Company for certifying 16 homes at Danielson Grove in Kirkland as 4-Star Built Green; Quadrant Homes for certifying 284 homes at Northlake Ridge in Auburn as 3-Star Built Green; DR Horton for certifying a home at Kylie Park in Stanwood as 3-Star Built Green; Howland Homes LLC for certifying 8 homes in Madison Valley, 22 homes at Northpoint, 4 homes at Whittier Heights, 10 homes at University North, and 6 homes at Madison Ridge all in Seattle as 3-Star Built Green; Hughes Building Company, Inc. for certifying a home at the Johnston Residence in Sammamish as 3-Star Built Green; Kirkland Builders Group for certifying a home at Talus in Issaquah as 3-Star Built Green; Noland Homes (www.nolandhomes.com) for certifying a home in Bellevue as 3-Star Built Green; Powell Homes for certifying 2 homes in Burien, 2 homes in Seattle, and 3 homes in Des Moines as 2-Star Built Green; Regency West Development Group for certifying a home at Dodd Ranch in Sammamish as 3-Star Built Green; Rick Burnstead Construction for certifying a home at Hawksridge in Talus, in Issaquah as 3-Star Built Green; and Seattle Housing Authority for certifying the High Point Community as 3-Star Built Green.

Member News

In honor of the completion of the Built Green Home at Suncadia ,Perry Nunes, son of developer Brenda Nunes, has written a touching poem in praise of the home. Here's to reaching the next generation!

The Built Green Home at Suncadia
By Perry Nunes

Its style is unique, its furniture is trendy;
In essence its beautiful, comfortable
and earth friendly.
Much more than mortar and sticks,
This house is a wonderful creation.
It's a beautifully balanced mix,
Of efficiency and innovation.
Its delicate design seems to blend in with the earth.
You have to see all its features,
to truly know it's worth.
It's easy to maintain and conserves
water and energy.
All of its components work together
in flawless synergy.
Using recycled materials and healthy substitutions.
The Built Green Home at Suncadia
minimizes pollution.
To make something this great,
you must have vision.
You must be intelligent and determined
and work with great precision.

Thank you Steering Committee
for your guidance over the year.
Everyday you guys were hardworking and sincere.
Also, thank you sponsors, for donating merchandise.
Your products and systems were a great addition,
along with your advice.
And don't forget the docents,
who taught our purpose well.
If it werent for all your help,
it'd be impossible to sell.
The mission of this house
was for the public to be educated.
On the styles of Built Green
and how its houses are created.
Hopefully, we will succeed in making people aware.
In addition to creating demand,
for this house style that is so rare.
Throughout this whole process,
relationships have grown.
Friendships have been strengthened,
and Built Green has become well known.
Though the house is finally finished,
and the workers are all gone.
The spirit of it all will continue to live on.

If you are a member of Built Green and have news you would like to share with our readers, please email your announcement to Built Green.

Job Postings

Position Description:
Executive Director Urban Green Sustainable Development Center
Location: Seattle, WA.

Overview of Organization:
Urban Green is a Sustainable Development Information Resource with 501c3 status, founded by King County, City of Seattle, Urban Land Institute, Cascadia Region Green Building Council.

Overview of Responsibilities:
The Executive Director is the chief executive officer of the organization, conducting its administration in accordance with policies set by the board of directors. The Executive Director will have significant influence on the board and the direction of the organization as it grows.
For More Details see: urbangreenresource.org

Position Description:
Green Building Program Manager

Organization: Sustainable Connections
Location: Bellingham, WA
Term: Full time, permanent
Application Deadline: Oct. 13, 2006
Contact: Derek M. Long
Program & Development Director
Derek@sconnect.org
P - (360) 647-7093
F - (360) 647-6902
Cell - (360) 303 - 7776
www.sustainableconnections.org.

King County

King County's LinkUp partner and Built Green member
Tiger Mountain Innovations celebrated a milestone at Seattle's Environmental Home Center this month with the manufacturing of their 500th slab. Tiger Mountain Innovations is a partner in King County's LinkUp program. LinkUp works with businesses to use recycled materials in the products they manufacture. The program provided technical services in the form of material testing, which demonstrated the high performance of Squak Mountain Stone. Tiger Mountain Innovations used test results to bring the product to the retail marketplace. "What started as a series of experiments in Ameé Quiriconi's Issaquah garage is now Squak Mountain Stone, a cement-based composite countertop and tabletop that is grabbing the attention of builders and designers across the country. Quiriconi's three-year old company, Tiger Mountain Innovations, celebrated the production of its 500th slab of Squak Mountain Stone Sept. 21 at Seattle's Environmental Home Center. "It's amazing how far we've come in such a short time," says Quiriconi. "Our unique product is case in point that environmental responsibility and profitability are not mutually exclusive. Since 2004, we have recycled more than 2,000 pounds of paper and more than 50,000 combined pounds of granite dust, fly ash and glass materials that would otherwise end up in local landfills," says Quiriconi. See the King County website for more details.

Letter from the Director

Built Green Sets Certification Records
This is shaping up to be a very exciting year for Built Green and as the third quarter comes to a close we are reaching some meaningful landmarks. In August Built Green achieved the highest number of certifications in a single month in the program's history, 635 projects. As of the end of September we have certified over 2000 projects, passing the previous high for certifications in a year. I credit this success to a renewed focus on builder outreach and the reengaging of our builder members in the certification process. I also attribute this growth to the rising awareness and interest in green building in the public eye as well as Built Green's own public outreach and marketing efforts.

With over half of the homes on the MBA Grand Tour of Homes certified as Built Green, and numerous fall events like the Green Living Expo and the Seattle Home Show 2, there are many outlets for the public to research, learn about and better understand the program. Between these promotional efforts and increased builder outreach we expect to continue this growth trend in certification numbers and raise the bar even higher for what has been a meaningful yet relatively stagnant percentage of the new construction and remodel markets.

- Aaron Adelstein

Call For Entries

2007 Built Green Conference, Call for Presenters
The 2007 Built Green Conference will be held March 13th, 2007 at the Everett Events Center in Everett, WA. We are seeking engaging speakers to share advanced technical knowledge, on-the ground expertise, and visionary wisdom on a wide range of topics. If you have a new angle on any facet of the industry, an insight into trends and/or breakthroughs in design and technologies, and you know how to capture an audience, we look forward to hearing from you. We will be showcasing both new and well-established experts in the field to present over 12 sessions.

Product Spotlight

For information on how to list your "green" products* in this space, please contact Built Green Director Aaron Adelstein by phone at (425) 460-8230, 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.

Events

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

Thursdays through Sundays, Sept. 21 through Oct. 15
Master Builders Association's Grand Tour of Homes
This inaugural year of the scattered site home tour boasts 105 homes, 65 of which are certified as Built Green. From South King County to North Snohomish, Seattle to Everett, this is an excellent opportunity to see Built Green homes wherever you live... or would like to live. The homes will be open to the public from noon to 6 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays, Sept. 21 through Oct. 15, 2006. Built Green houses on the tour will be noted in the Tour of Homes guidebook, which can be picked up at your local QFC grocery store.

Thursday, Oct. 12 through Sunday, Oct. 15,
Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Show 2
Come see the Built Green™ booth at the Seattle Home Show 2. The northwest's biggest show for building, remodeling and outdoor products will feature hundreds of exhibitors at the Qwest Field Convention Center.

Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13 and 14, Shoreline, WA
Odyssey Days
Odyssey Days at Shoreline Community College will explore new alternative vehicles, biofuels, and renewable energy in Washington State. Find new ways to meet our energy demands, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a more sustainable future.

Thursday, Oct. 19, Bellevue, WA
Remodelors™ Council Dinner featuring David Johnston
The Remodelors™ Council invites you join them for their monthly dinner meeting so you can see first hand what is up and coming in the Council and make new contacts.
Special guest speaker: David Johnston
President, What's Working, Inc.
Visionary Solutions for Green Building
As founder of What's Working, Inc., a green building consultancy that provides socially and ecologically responsible guidance to businesses, agencies and communities around the world, Johnston is committed to radically transforming the way America builds. He co-designed the Denver Metro Home Builders Association's Built Green Program and the Boulder Green Points Program, which encourages the use of cost-effective and sustainable building practices. Johnston is also the founding designer and consultant to the California Build It Green program that stimulated market transformation programs in California and is at work to implement similar programs nationwide. Please contact the MBA Events Department at jmartin@mbaks.com.

Tuesday, Oct. 31, Everett, WA
Sustainable Business Conference
The Climate is Changing- and so are responses to it. Business, government and scientific leaders are developing strategies for responding to energy and climate issues, and with these strategies come new business opportunities and realities.

The conference will be held from 7:30am-12pm. Detailed agenda and registration information to follow soon and will be available at pscleanair.org. In the meantime, save the date and plan to join leaders from science, business and government to discuss this changing world - and the opportunities it brings for Snohomish County.

October 7 through October 13
Sweden-Denmark Urban Sustainability Study Tour
International Sustainable Solutions has organized another Sweden-Denmark Urban Sustainability Study Tour. Join leading developers, architects, engineers, public officials and others to experience what European cities have done to create highly livable, economically vibrant urban environments. This tour will focus on sustainability topics in the urban built environment, and will cover issues such as low impact development, high performance buildings, transportation/mobility, green roofs, creating vibrant public and private spaces, urban planning and energy. Many of the Northwest's leading developers, architects, engineers, public officials and others have already joined us on previous study tours to experience what other cities have done to create highly livable, economically vibrant urban environments. For more information please contact Patricia Chase at by email, or visit the ISS website.

October 14 through October 20
Sustainable Energy Systems of Northern Europe
International Sustainable Solutions has organized a new study tour: Sustainable Energy Systems of Northern Europe. This tour will explore the technologies and policies of power generation, distribution and energy efficiency that now allow the economies of Northern Europe to achieve up to 75% higher GDP output per unit of energy consumed than the U.S. Participants will visit wind, solar and other building-integrated and neighborhood-scale-distributed generation installations, combined heat and power plants, waste-to-energy plants, district energy systems, examples of ground source heating and cooling and high performance buildings. For more information please contact Patricia Chase by email, or visit the ISS website.

Classes

Classes listed below are approved workshops for fulfilling the annual Built Green education requirement for certifying projects.

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

Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13 and 14, Shoreline, WA
Odyssey Days
Odyssey Days at Shoreline Community College will explore new alternative vehicles, biofuels, and renewable energy in Washington State. Find new ways to meet our energy demands, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a more sustainable future.

Tuesday, Oct. 31, Everett, WA
Sustainable Business Conference
The Climate is Changing- and so are responses to it. Business, government and scientific leaders are developing strategies for responding to energy and climate issues, and with these strategies come new business opportunities and realities.

Detailed agenda and registration information to follow soon and will be available at www.pscleanair.org. In the meantime, save the date and plan to join leaders from science, business and government to discuss this changing world - and the opportunities it brings for Snohomish County.

November 3, Everett, WA
Building, Marketing, and Financing Green Construction, a Workshop for Real Estate Professionals

3 1/2 State-Approved Clock Hours.
Instructor: Dave Porter, MIRM, 1st Vice President, Northwest Division Builder Manager, Countrywide Home Loans - National Builder Division

Homebuyers are demanding green. All building industry partners need to know how to leverage green to their benefit (as well as profit from it). Smart builders are positioning themselves with green options and appealing to a larger group of homebuyers. Real estate professionals are the bridge that communicates this benefit to the consumer. This workshop will provide a detailed look at how you can achieve that edge by spotlighting an upcoming Deep Green project case study.

This 3.5 clock hour state approved workshop will:
Define green construction.
Show and tell of green features.
Explain ways to position green in consumer marketing and education campaigns.
Evaluate marketing campaigns and financing methods to promote green building.

November 3, 2006, 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Snohomish PUD #1 Commissioners Room
2320 California Street
Everett, WA 98201
Cost $15.00 per participant, certificates will be issued, breakfast will be served.

RSVP: Terri Hooper by email.

Tuesday, November 14, 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,November 14, at the Master Builders Association Housing Center 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 is required in order to certify homes as Built Green. To register, contact the MBA University registrar via email or at (425) 451-7920.

Wednesday, November 15, Woodinville, WA
Managing Erosion and Water Quality on Construction Sites
New regulations are going into effect on Oct. 1. Meet with regulators, enforcement officials, and solutions providers to learn about:
- The new CESCL requirements
- Construction site water quality parameters
- BMP selection and implementation
- Advanced stormwater treatment technologies.

This class is being organized by the Northwest Environmental Business Council. It will be held from 1pm-4 p.m. at the Red Hook Brewery in Woodinville as an educational forum for all those responsible for keeping construction sites under compliance and our rivers and Puget Sound clean. A reception will follow. Contact NEBC for more information.

Puget Sound Energy

Be sure to visit your friends from Puget Sound Energy (PSE) at the 8th annual Seattle Home Show 2 running Oct. 12 to 15 at the Qwest Field Event Center.

PSE representatives will be on hand to provide information on PSE's rebate programs for ENERGY STAR® qualified clothes washers, lighting and natural gas furnaces as well as high-efficiency heat pumps and natural gas water heaters. You can also learn more about PSE's Green Power Program and the benefits of ENERGY STAR qualified homes for home buyers and builders.

PSE's booth will also display examples of some of the most advanced ENERGY STAR qualified products.

We hope to see you there, but if you can't make it to the home show, visit www.pse.com or call our Energy Advisors.

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

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.