Featured Project

View the case study here.

Seattle Street of Dreams, Quinn's Crossing, Snohomish County
The Seattle Street of Dreams is a Pacific Northwest icon as a showcase for luxury homes, and this year the participants in the show were asked to certify their projects as Built Green. Of the five homes in the show, two attained the 3-Star level, two achieved 4-Star, and one certified at the 5-Star level. Each of them utilized a full spectrum of green strategies from innovative drought tolerant landscaping strategies to cutting edge resource efficient materials. By the end of August over 80,000 people had toured the homes and been exposed to green building as it can be applied in the custom and luxury housing markets - very stylishly. The below strategies are a cross-section of those used by various homes on the street, but may not have been used by each home individually.

Some of the many green highlights of the green building showcase included:

Site and Water Protection

To see other previously featured virtual tours, click here.

Photo by Northwest Property Imaging.

Letter from the Director

Sustainable September Offers Unique Celebration
Eastsiders have a great opportunity this month to experience the greener elements of their community through the grassroots Sustainable September event. This month long showcase of green businesses and practices, primarily in Kirkland, Redmond and Bellevue, will have educational opportunities for the public and sustainability industry professionals alike. Conceived by Brenda Nunes and the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce, the event is the result of collaboration between the City of Kirkland, the City of Redmond, numerous eastside colleges, and the eastside business community.

The month will kick off on September 5th with a street dance celebrating Kirkland's urban sustainability lifestyle at the close of the Wednesday Market. Other features will include an expo on September 15th featuring green businesses from the food service, technology, building, and automotive industries, a green homes tour of the Cottage Company's Danielson Grove, and numerous opportunities for professional education. For a full calendar of events, see www.sustainableseptember.org.

Sustainable September's goal is to create public awareness and demand for sustainability and to educate the public about the role sustainability plays in our future by promoting businesses, educational institutions and governments that are engaging in sustainable practices or providing green goods and services options to the community. Presenting sponsors are the Washington State Department of Ecology, Built Green™, Puget Sound Energy, and Waste Management.

While the month long event will have a lot to offer on green building, it is not an exclusively building focused event. I encourage every one interested in sustainability issues across the board to take some time this month to join in this unique celebration!

- Aaron Adelstein

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!

Architects Northwest Inc
(425) 485-4900 in Woodinville

Aspen Homes Inc
(206) 621-9198 in Mercer Island

Craig Smith Construction Inc
(425) 392-4751 in Issaquah

Darrin Stumpf/John L. Scott Real Estate
(206) 779-6196 in Seattle

Dimension 4 Design
Full Service A/E Firm Building Vista View Homes
(425) 818-1617 in Bellevue

First Light Financial
Improving Life and Lifestyles with Go Green from First Light Financial Inc.
(206) 242-2407 in Seattle

Gerry Slick Design Group Inc
(253) 573-1562 in Tacoma

Level Line Exteriors Inc
(206) 547-1851 in Seattle

N.W. BLOOM - Ecological Landscapes
(425) 485-5362 in Bothell

Pageantry Homes
(253) 854-0415 in Renton

Precision Countertops
(253) 867-5317 in Kent

Ripple Design Studio
(206) 913-2333 in Seattle

Wagenseller Building Company
Quality building for over 30 years
(206) 362-0203 in Shoreline

Walton Group LLC
(206) 919-0424 in Bellevue

Windermere Real Estate/East Inc
When you want to know, ask a native!
(425) 698-3254 in Bellevue

New Certifications

Congratulations to AJP Properties for certifying four homes on 17th Avenue NE in Seattle as 3-Star Built Green; The Archstone Co LLC for certifying four homes on Federal Avenue E and four homes on 23rd Avenue W in Seattle as 3-Star Built Green; Eco Seattle Homes for certifying seven homes on Alonzo Avenue NW in Seattle as 3-Star Built Green; Fine Construction/KKEM Development for certifying a home on 48th Avenue SW in Seattle as 3-Star Built Green; Lockie Homes for certifying a home at the Street of Dreams on 114th Avenue SE in Snohomish as 4-Star Built Green; Opus NW Contractors for certifying twenty one homes on Cabin Trail Drive in Roslyn as 3-Star Built Green; Regal Homes LLC for certifying one home on 96th Place W in Edmonds as 2-Star Built Green; Stickney Murphy Romine Architects for certifying a multi-family project on 10th Avenue in Seattle as 3-Star Built Green; Stuart Silk Architects for certifying one home on Algonquin Road in Woodway as 3-Star Built Green and Wagenseller Building Company for certifying one remodel project on 9th Avenue NW in Seattle as 3-Star Built Green!

Call for Papers

2008 Built Green Conference Call for Entries
The 2008 Built Green Conference will be held March 13 and 14, 2008 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, 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.

The education tracks presented at the 2008 Built Green Conference will focus on the following areas:
In The Field, which includes: building science; technical advise that can be applied to projects; energy efficiency; indoor air quality; deconstruction; and engineering.
Innovation: the future of our environment and built communities.
Green=Money: green building finance, appraisal, lending and real estate fields.
Planning, Permitting, and Public Policy: navigating jurisdictional hurdles, incentive programs and facilitating green building within public agencies.

We will be showcasing both new and well-established experts in the field to present over 15 sessions.

Submission Requirements:
The abstract submissions should be 300 words and include a short biography. Submissions are due by Oct. 15, 2007. For more information, please contact Built Green at builtgreen@mbaks.com.

2008 Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards and Trade Show
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is accepting submissions for papers and posters to be presented at the Sixth Annual International Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards and Trade Show April 30 and May 1 and 2, 2008 in Baltimore, MD.

Abstract submissions are due by Sept. 30, 2007
Submission requirements:
Completion of the call for papers submission form, which includes a 300-word abstract and 50-word biography, submitted by Sept. 30, 2007.
For more information or to download the submission form, please click here.

Sustainable Development

Saturday, October 6, Everett
Sustainable Energy Fair and Solar Tour 2007
Join us for a day of enlightening solutions that sustain our lifestyles while preserving our natural environment.

The Green Everett Sustainable Energy Fair and Solar Tour is a solution based, hands-on, family oriented event designed to educate people of all ages and backgrounds about sustainable living practices and renewable energy.

Cecile Andrews, founder of the Phinney EcoVillage, will energize the Fair as our Keynote Speaker. We will feature two panel discussions and kick off the 2007 Snohomish County Solar Tour. Exhibitors and demonstrators will present a variety of options in the field of renewable energy.

The Fair is organized by Green Everett in collaboration with the Foundation for Sustainable Community, the Sustainable Snohomish Development Task Force of Snohomish County and the Snohomish PUD.

Fair Location: PUD Headquarters Office, 2320 California St, Everett
Fair Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Solar Tour: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fair Admission:
Old cell phone or empty ink/laser cartridge
Clean plastic grocery bags
Suggested $5 donation
For more information contact: Karen Erickson at 360-862-9087 or e-mail. Carpooling to the event is encouraged

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.

Featured Event

2007 Tour of Homes
Come join us for the second annual Master Builders Tour of Homes and enjoy new features in both the free tour and the free guidebook, available at all QFC locations. With green building entering the mainstream and captivating both the media and consumer's alike, this year the Built Green&trade program is a sponsor of the Tour of Homes and this year's tour reflects a special focus on green building. With over forty homes on the tour, tour-goers will be able to experience the most innovative and cutting edge products and practices in new home construction.

Built Green Director Aaron Adelstein will be conducting tours of the 4-Star Built Green homes at Shamrock Heights in Renton, Sept. 15. Discover how homeowners can save energy costs, enhance in-home air quality and benefit the environment by using renewable resources. There will be four tours lasting 30-minutes each starting at 1 p.m. and ending at 3 p.m. Come see what these green homes have to offer and what they can mean for you and your family.

The tour kicks off on Friday, September 14 and takes place each weekend, Friday through Sunday from Noon to 6 p.m., ending on Sunday, September 30. For more information, please head to your local QFC for the free Tour of Homes Guidebook, or visit the Tour of Homes website.

Featured Class

Wednesday, September 26, Bellevue
Turning Green into Gold
Presented by John Tooley and brought to you by:
         

The demand for healthy, safe, durable, comfortable, energy efficient and environmentally responsible homes has reached unprecedented levels. Mainstream homebuyers are seeking out the Energy Star label and latching onto the term "green," and may be willing to pay a premium price to get them. But to capture this premium, builders must incorporate green and energy efficient practices that do not add considerable costs and create a building that delivers beyond homeowner expectations.

In order to accomplish this, builders need to know what green really means, and understand the principles of building science that deliver high performance homes that really work!

About John Tooley:
John Tooley is one of the nation's most respected innovators in the area of building science technologies. Recipient of the Florida Governor's Energy Award, Tooley has also been honored with the Energy Efficient Building Association's coveted Joule Award for his pioneering contributions to the building industry. Tooley has diagnosed and repaired more than 5,000 residential buildings and researched the feasibility of many new methods for making HVAC systems more efficient.

Sign Up Now!
Space is limited, so don't miss the opportunity to learn the potential benefits that Energy Star and Built Green™ can bring to your business.
When: Wednesday, September 26, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: Master Builders Association Housing Center, 335 116th Avenue SE, Bellevue
Price: $60 - Includes a continental breakfast and lunch.
For more information or to register contact: April Wetmore at (425) 451-7920 or by e-mail.

Classes

Tuesday, September 11, Bellevue
Introduction to Built Green™
This seminar provides an introduction to the Built Green program from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 7 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 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.

Saturday, September 15, Seattle
Eco-Friendly Workshop
The workshop will convey a lot of information on buying eco-friendly housing, but, will be presented in laymen's terms. If you are interested in purchasing a home that is more eco-friendly, but would like to first learn more about what really defines an eco-friendly home, and what is helpful to know before you begin your search, then this workshop is for you!

Date and Time: Tuesday, June 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Phinney Neighborhood Center
When: Saturday, September 15, from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
You can reserve your space by sending us your name, phone and email and clicking here. This information will also allow us to notify you in the event of venue or date change. Seating space is limited and priority will be given to those that have registered. Please call (425) 280-4223 for more information.

Tuesday, September 18, Seattle
Beyond Green Workshop Training and "Eco-Modernism" Presentation
The first event hosted by the Green Resource Council of the Northwest (GRC-NW), it will include a three hour morning workshop and afternoon presentation. The morning training session - presented by Gene Lisa, Verde Interior Products - will cover such topics as "What is Green - the Basics, Environmental Materials 101 and LEED-CI & the Interior Designer." The afternoon session will feature guest speaker Peter Danko, Danko Design Initiative, who will give a discussion on "An Eco-Modernist Design Initiative."

The workshop is intended for professionals in the commercial interiors industry who want to learn more about creating interiors that consider environmental & human health impacts.

Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Time & Place: 8:30 am to 3 pm; Washington Athletic Club, 1325 6th Ave, Seattle
Cost: $95 per person (includes sessions and lunch)
To Register: Send an email to Brooke@apexfacility.com

Sponsored by Apex Facility Resources, Inc. and O EcoTextiles.

Wednesday, October 17, Seattle
Stormwater: Turning a Potential Problem into an Asset
A Practical Design Workshop for Professionals

Back by popular demand - register early!

Wednesday, October 17,
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
NHS Hall, UW Center for Urban Horticulture
Sponsored by Seattle Public Utilities and UW Botanic Gardens
Fee $50, includes lunch.
Pre-registration required.
ISA Certified Arborist credits pending

Rainwater can be a resource. This practical course shows professionals how to use simple "Low Impact Development" stormwater management techniques to slow, infiltrate, and celebrate rainwater in our landscapes. The class is designed for landscape architects, landscape contractors, designers, builders, engineers, architects and planners. Speakers will focus on successful projects around our region, large and small, municipal and private, as teaching tools. Rain gardens, cisterns, permeable paving options, bio-retention swales, soil improvement, plant selection, and landscape design for projects will be presented, along with "how to" guidelines. Upcoming stormwater regulations will require many of these practices, customers are asking for them and there are many reasons to start using them now. This seminar will show you how.

Instructors include: Chris Webb PE (Chris Webb Engineering), Curtis Hinman (WSU), Tracy Tackett PE, Jim Johnson and David McDonald (Seattle Public Utilities), Peg Staeheli and Kathy Gwilym PE (SvR Design), and Shane DeWald ASLA (SDOT).

Download registration flier here, or call (206) 685-8033 for more information.

Events

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

Friday, September 21, Seattle
Green building! Ten projects, ten slides each and ten minutes each.
The Seattle chapter of the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild is holding its annual fundraiser on Friday, September 21st, Downstairs at Town Hall; doors open at 6:30 pm.

Join us for this high-energy fundraiser and get excited about sustainable building projects that our members are working on in the Seattle area. You'll have the opportunity to enjoy Cameron Catering's zero-waste service and find out more about our sponsors. There will also be a silent auction of Guild member services and the possibility to meet other people interested in sustainable design and construction.

Tickets are $20 each in advance at Brown Paper Tickets, or $25 each cash/check only at the door.

More information is available at www.ecobuilding.org.

The Northwest EcoBuilding Guild is an association of builders, designers, homeowners, trades people, manufacturers, suppliers and others interested in ecologically sustainable building. A vital organization, its mission is to function as an educational forum to facilitate building practices that: protect human health, encourage sustainable resource usage, and foster long-term economic vitality.

September 20 through 22,
San Francisco
America's Largest Residential Green Building Conference Returns
To San Francisco
West Coast Green 2007, scheduled for September 20 through 22 at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, will host presentations delivered by over 250 political leaders, industry analysts, green building experts and national celebrities. The list includes some of the building trades' most sought after experts including Sarah Susanka, Michelle Kaufmann, Bob Berkebile, Cameron Sinclair, David Eisenberg, Tom Paladino, Eric Corey Freed, Ed Mazria and many others.

September 20 and 21: Professional Trade Conference
With homebuilding leveling out across the nation, tens of thousands of traditional home building professionals are now exploring the only significant area of growth in the residential market: green building. To serve this diverse audience, the first two days' of West Coast Green's program stretches beyond typical workshop and presentation settings to inspire supportive collaboration and meaningful dialogue amongst building professionals.

September 22: Professional Trade Conference + Homeowner Day
Also celebrated for its unique "Homeowner Day", when the conference opens its doors on the final day to the general public, West Coast Green will host community leaders and visionaries, such as San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Hollywood actor Ed Begly Jr., environmental/civil rights leader Van Jones and many others. Homeowners looking to design and build a new, energy-efficient green home, or those looking to upgrade the efficiency of their existing homes, will benefit from walking the tradeshow floor, abounding with hundreds of products and services to build, remodel, power, insulate, clean, furnish and finance their green homes.

What: West Coast Green 2007
Where: Bill Graham Auditorium, 99 Grove Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
When: Thursday through Saturday, September 20 to 22, 2007
Register: westcoastgreen.com or (800) 724-4880

Thursday, September 27
Green Airport 101
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is one of the greenest airports in the nation, with programs on recycling; air quality and alternative fuels; noise; wetland and stream mitigation; and management of storm water, hazardous waste and wildlife. Participants will take a bus tour of environmental mitigation areas for the new third runway. See how stormwater is managed, how Miller Creek was rebuilt, and visit the base of the retaining wall for the third runway embankment. Flat shoes (no sandals) are advised.

Reception immediately following will feature a hosted bar and appetizers in the Airport Conference Center. Access through security will be provided to those interested in visiting the Central Terminal to sample new shopping and eating venues.

RSVP Deadline: Friday, Sept. 21
Check in: 3:45 p.m.
Tour Begins: 4 p.m.
Reception: 5:45 to 7 p.m.
Location: Sea-Tac Airport, Airport Conference Center*

Wednesday and Thursday, October 17 and 18, Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center
2007 Northwest Environmental Summit
A Great Event Not to Be Missed!
Washington State's most comprehensive environmental conference is coming to the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center on Oct. 17 and 18. The Northwest Environmental Summit is a must-attend event for anyone who needs to stay ahead of environmental law, regulation, policy and technology best practices. Visit the Summit Tradeshow and learn about the newest technologies and services available to help your company become more profitable and effective.

For more information or to register, visit www.envsummit.com or contact Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or by email.

Wednesday, October 24, Tukwila
SAVE THE DATE - Amy Vickers Comes to Puget Sound Region
The Partnership for Water Conservation is pleased to announce that internationally-recognized water conservation expert Amy Vickers will be the keynote speaker at the PWC Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will take place Wednesday, October 24, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Tukwila Community Center, 12424 42nd Ave. S, Tukwila, WA. Stay tuned for more info.

The Annual Meeting is free of charge and is limited to PWC Members Only! Space is limited!
To reserve your seat for this event, please RSVP to janetn@partners4water.org or call the PWC Office: (206) 957-2199.

December 11 and 12, Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue
2007 Northwest Builders Show

Learn.See.Network.Build
The 2007 Northwest Builder Show will offer extensive opportunities for our building and remodeling community to explore what's new in the marketplace. Register now for one of our many classes on topics such as: EEBA Built Green, Risk Management and Home Warranties, Team Building, Business Theft and 90-Minute Law. The 2007 Northwest Builders Show will feature a General Membership/Officer Installation Dinner, national speakers and much more. Visit our website for more information and registration.