Featured Home

Featured Home by Burnstead Construction

This home by Burnstead Construction is part of its Magnolia Park development in the Built Green community of Issaquah Highlands. With a mix of cottage style homes and traditional single-family homes, Magnolia Park is a unique community with mountain views and greenbelts centered around a 1-acre community park. During construction of this home, Burnstead followed the criteria for 17 out of 19 BG credits for eliminating water pollutants, taking extra precautions on all site work to protect the soil and prevent runoff.

Jobsite recycling helped keep materials such as cardboard, wood scraps, drywall and yard waste out of the landfill. In the building envelope, corners and interior/exterior wall intersections were fully insulated to reduce thermal bridging, and an exterior air infiltration barrier was installed. Light-colored interior finishes and a clerestory help provide natural lighting. Choices for interior products provide healthier indoor air with low-pile carpet that is CRI IAQ-rated and tacked instead of glued, low-VOC paints and sealers, and extra moisture control throughout. Energy Star appliances, including heating/cooling equipment and an extra-efficient dishwasher will help the homeowners save money on their utility bills. Burnstead also provided garage sorting bins for recyclables so it’ll be easy for the homeowners to participate in the local household recycling program.

New Members

CoryOgraphy - A graphic design firm specializing in marketing, data management, and e-commerce

Goodwin Development LLC
(206) 694-4556

WA Aggregates & Concrete Association - An association within the state of Washington serving the concrete industry

Lyle Homes Inc - A local general contractor located in Bellevue known for quality workmanship and attention to detail

Triad Associates - The leading land development consulting firm located in the Pacific Northwest

View our current members.

Events

Thursday, September 16
Built Green Membership Meeting
Our second annual membership meeting will be held from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue on Sept. 16. Complimentary refreshments will be served as we discuss the past year, look forward, recognize outstanding projects and members, and open the floor to questions. The meeting will be followed by the MBA Fall Builders Trade Show from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and the General Membership Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Join your fellow Built Green members at special designated tables for Built Green! Sign up for the trade show and dinner with a cost of $35.

Thursday, September 23
Conference on Rainwater Harvesting
Offered by the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association, this all-day meeting will be held Thursday, Sept. 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at Seattle Center. Register Online.

Sunday - Wednesday, September 26-29
Profitable Sustainability Conference
A look at the new business models that align companies with benefit to their communities, customers, employees, owners and shareholders, and the environment – profitably! Built Green member Bert Gregory, president of Mithun Architects, joins other nationally known experts including Hunter Lovins, founder of Rocky Mountain Institute, and Michael Braungart, co-founder of McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, as a speaker at the Seattle Westin from Sept. 26 to 29.

Thursday - Sunday, October 14-17
Seattle Home Show 2

Last year's Seattle Home Show

Built Green joins more than 400 exhibitors at this fall’s biggest Home Show at the Seahawks Exhibition Center across from Safeco Field! If you’re in a position to share your green building knowledge and experience with consumers who visit the booth, please consider working a 2-hour shift. E-mail the director with the times you can work. The show is open 10 a.m. to 8:30 pm Thursday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The Built Green booth is sponsored by Jorve Roofing, our sponsors last fall as well. Thank you to Jorve’s team for supporting Built Green and making it possible for us to be at the Home Show!

Seattle Home Show Online - features a searchable database of products and suppliers

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

Election 2004

Are you registered to vote in your area?

If not, here are some useful links:

Voter Forms

Vote Absentee in Snohomish County

Request a One-time Absentee Voter Ballot in King County

Become an Ongoing Absentee Voter in King County

List of MBA-Endorsed, Housing-Friendly Candidates

For further information regarding candidates or elections, please contact Scott Hildebrand, Public Policy Director at the MBA.

Courses

Thursday, September 9
Introduction to Built Green provides an overview of the entire program on Thursday, Sept. 9 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the MBA. The course is free and open to anyone. This course (or equivalent) is required for certifying a Built Green project.

Register for any classes at MBAU by calling (425) 460-8238 or sending an email to MBA University. Fall Education Catalog

Wednesday, September 8 * Pierce County MBA
Tapping the Green in Built Green
Learn the basics of Built Green and the green home buyer on Sept. 8 at the Pierce County MBA in Tacoma from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Class location is at 1120 Pacific Ave. #301, Tacoma. 3.5 Real Estate Clock Hours are offered. If you need further information, please call (253) 272-2112 or view this flyer (pdf).

Wednesday, September 22
Sustainable Construction Practices: Biodiesel
An interactive workshop for developers, architects and contractors on incorporating biodiesel into the construction industry. The workshop will provide education on the benefits and use of biodiesel, present success stories from contractors and fleets that are using biodiesel, from developers who have incorporated biodiesel into the bid process, and provide a nuts and bolts discussion of where to get biodiesel and job site logistics. The class will be held Sept. 22 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (registration at 7:30 a.m.) at the Lighting Design Lab, 400 E. Pine St., Suite 100 in Seattle. For more information, contact Linda J. Graham at the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition at (206) 684-0935.

Thursday, October 7
Construction Waste and Jobsite Recycling provides tools for saving money through jobsite recycling and waste prevention on Thursday, Oct. 7 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the MBA.

Two Great Courses Offered on Deconstruction of Existing Structures!

Monday, October 25
Cradle to Cradle Design: Designing for Deconstruction and Maximum Materials Reuse
Learn how to incorporate deconstruction of an existing building on your site into your design process, Monday, Oct. 25 from 11a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lighting Design Lab on 400 E. Pine St., Suite 100, in Seattle. Cost is $30 and includes lunch.

This workshop will teach design professionals, owners and developers how to:

• Assess a building for its deconstruction potential
• Write deconstruction into specifications
• Incorporate the reuse of building materials into all projects
• Overcome challenges to deconstruction and salvage
• Design reused materials into projects
• Design a building to be easily deconstructed
• Use deconstruction to achieve LEED Materials & Resource credits 2 and 3

Tuesday, October 26
Rethink Demolition: How to Deconstruct a Building from Start to Finish
Learn how to deconstruct a building, Tuesday, Oct. 26 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the AGC Education Foundation, Westlake Room, 2nd floor 1200 Westlake Ave. N, in Seattle. Cost is $30 and includes breakfast, lunch and tour.

This workshop will teach contractors and demolition contractors how to:

• Assess a building for its deconstruction potential
• Write a variety of contracts
• Overcome challenges to deconstruction and salvage
• Control costs
• Manage the key environmental and safety issues and regulations

In both deconstruction courses you’ll have the opportunity to hear first-hand experience from a variety of local projects, meet local deconstruction companies and tour a jobsite to see how the deconstruction process works. The instructors are experts at deconstruction: Brad Guy, director of operations at Pennsylvania State University’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, and Dave Bennink, former field manager at the RE Store's Seattle and Bellingham used building material stores.

To register for either course, please call the Resource Venture at (206) 389-7302.

From the Director

Checklists Update Beginning This Fall
We will begin updating all four Built Green program checklists this fall. Would you like to be involved? If so, please contact me so your name can be added to our distribution list for the first meeting. This is an extremely important aspect of the program, allowing the program to remain at the forefront of the green home building industry and address the most recent advances in technology and methods. You can bring your expertise to the table to help us craft the best checklist possible, for the best allowable credits for best management practices. We plan to delete credits that are no longer valid, or that code now require, and add credits that are applicable but absent from the checklists. This is your opportunity to help steer the program and have an impact where it counts!

Robin Rogers, Program Director

Product Spotlight

Brick, one of the world's most sustainable building materials, combines
architectural style with environmentally responsible energy and maintenance savings.

For information on how to list your "green" products* in this space, please contact Pam Worner by phone at (425) 460-8238.

*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.

New Certified Projects

Congratulations to the 87 new home certifications for this month! Greenleaf Construction certified two homes; Quadrant Homes certified 72; The Cottage Company has 12 new cottages certified; and O’Brien and Company facilitated the certification of one new home in Seattle.

Burned but Still Alive!

EHC Showroom that burned down

Environmental Home Center Burned, But Business Is Still Alive!
One of the mainstays of green building in the Northwest has been the Environmental Home Center in Seattle. The nation’s first sustainable building supplier, EHC lost its main warehouse, showroom and office space near Safeco Field in an early-morning fire in August. Immediately following the fire, however, the company implemented a bold recovery plan to keep the business operational while retaining its entire 21-person staff. Two of the company’s three warehouses were left intact so some stock is still available to customers. EHC operates a call center and outside sales team that respond to customers in all 50 states, and the company continues to be committed to filling as many existing product orders as possible in a timely manner. Products include low-toxic paints & finishes, wool and plant-fiber carpets, sustainably harvested wood products including flooring and cabinets, true linoleum, water and air filters, energy-efficient insulation and people-friendly cleaning supplies. As updated information becomes available, such as a new temporary location and progress toward rebuilding, it will be posted on the company website. Customers can also call to leave a message at (206) 682-7332.

King County

The King County permitting office building in Renton is getting a new look. Recent visitors to the Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) have already noticed changes. This summer a planting triangle in the parking lot received a complete makeover, replacing a monoculture of groundcover with a more sustainable garden of drought tolerant plants. It is the first of three new gardens that will be installed at DDES. Each garden will demonstrate sustainable landscaping options for a different type of microclimate common in the Northwest. A shade garden will go near the front doors of the building, and a rain garden (a garden planted in a depression that holds water for a long time after rains, thus minimizing storm runoff) will be planted behind the building this fall.

King County DDES Flower

Each garden will be accompanied by signs identifying the site conditions for the plantings. Inside the lobby there will be more detailed brochures describing sustainable landscape management practices and providing plant lists for customers who want to copy the gardens at home. The drought garden has already had an impact on visitors to the DDES building. The landscaping company that manages the site has received training on how to care for the new gardens in an environmentally friendly manner, and DDES staff members take pride in their improved landscape, protecting the young plants from pedestrians, and they report that they receive questions and compliments about the garden almost every day.

Snohomish County

Want to participate in construction recycling in Snohomish County? The following items are easy to recycle: asphalt, cardboard, concrete, drywall, metals, wood, plastic film, asphalt roofing, paper (from the job shack), beverage containers and organic material.

Snohomish County Construction Debris

Check out these resources to help:

Construction, Demolition & Landclearing Debris Recycling Guide (pdf)

Directory of Recyclers (pdf)

Resources

To Eliminate Waste
The non-profit Zero Waste Alliance provides management support, training and education, and technical services including a resource clearinghouse to organizations wishing to improve upon efficiency and profitability by reducing their environmental impacts.

Environmental Sustainability Index
The Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) is a measure of overall progress towards environmental sustainability, developed for 142 countries in 2002. According to the study, Finland ranked at the top because of its success in minimizing air and water pollution, its high institutional capacity to handle environmental problems, and its comparatively low levels of greenhouse gas emissions. The United States performance was found to lag in controlling greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, and in reducing waste. Yet the US stands at the forefront of the world in controlling water pollution and promoting robust environmental policy debates! Perhaps programs like Built Green can help raise our score from 45th place! View the entire report and indicators.

Overview of Economic Sustainability Issues
Eco-Economy Indicators from the Earth Policy Institute highlight important trends that affect progress toward an eco-economy, such as population, global temperatures, carbon emissions, fish catches, forest cover, grain harvests and melting ice.

Managing a Sustainable Business
Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) is a global non-profit organization that helps member companies achieve commercial success in ways that respect ethical values, people, communities and the environment. Through socially responsible business policies and practices, companies can achieve viable, sustainable growth that benefits stakeholders as well as stockholders. BSR provides tools, training and custom advisory services to enable its members to leverage corporate social responsibility as a competitive advantage.

Construction Works
To enroll your project in King County’s construction recycling program, called Construction Works, or to learn more about it, contact Kinley Deller at KC Solid Waste Division, (206) 296-4434, or, if your project is located within the city of Seattle, contact Karen Price, (206) 389-7281.

For ideas on using sustainable products and technologies, visit the PSE Built Green Idea Home Interactive Website.

Cars, Trucks and SUVs
Looking for a new fleet for your business? Find out how a particular vehicle scores on air pollution, fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions by visiting this EPA website. It provides easy-to-access information on automobiles, minivans, SUVs and trucks - small or large - starting from the 2000 models, including vehicle specifications.

Habitat Conservation Measures Receive Builder Support
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) supported two bills that were passed by the House Resources Committee this summer that would make important changes to the critical habitat designation process, reduce litigation, promote species recovery, provide incentives for private landowners to enact voluntary conservation measures, and ensure that Endangered Species Act decisions are based on sound scientific data. To read the legislation above, click here, and enter the bill number in the box at the upper left.

Natural Yard Care Neighborhoods in King County
People are often surprised to find out the biggest polluter of local waterways is no longer industry but rather people's homes and yards. But how do you have a nice lawn without pesticides? The answer: King County’s Natural Yard Care Neighborhood Program! This program was developed when it was found that gardeners are less likely to respond to glossy pamphlets or direct mail -- but would change yard care behavior if they found their neighbors succeed in having a healthier lawn after "going natural." Residents or developers in King County interested in implementing a natural yard care program in neighborhoods should contact a representative of their city, or call Doug Rice at (206) 296-8360. The Cottage Company’s Built Green community of Conover Commons in Redmond is the first full community to be designated as a Natural Yard Care Neighborhood. Visit the website.

Further Reading

The Evergreen Sustainable Home in Olympia
One of the greenest homes in Puget Sound, this Habitat For Humanity residence will soon be Built Green certified as finishing touches are applied all around. Progress has been photo-documented on a website. A recent article in The Olympian tells the story. We’ll write more about this remarkable project in an upcoming issue of Built Green News once the home is complete.

Working with Rastra can be as simple as “filing down” a portion of the wall to fit a beam into the Evergreen Sustainable Home.

Eco-Economy by Lester Brown can be downloaded for free in pdf simply by signing in to the website. E.O. Wilson called this book "an instant classic." Brown promotes the idea of an environmentally sustainable economy—an eco-economy—that requires that the principles of ecology establish the framework for the formulation of economic policy and that economists and ecologists should work together to fashion this new economy. More info...

Contact Built Green

Master Builders Association
335 – 116th Avenue SE
Bellevue, WA 98004
Directions
Phone (425) 460-8238
Tollfree (800) 522-2209
Fax (425) 646-5985
builtgreen@mbaks.com

MBA Calendar of Events

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