Built Green™ is a non-profit, residential green building program created by the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties in partnership with King County, Snohomish County and the City of Seattle. It was developed to provide homeowners with comfortable, durable homes that are cost-effective to own and operate.
While contractors in Seattle already build to some of the toughest energy, air quality, stormwater management, and water efficiency standards in the nation, Built Green can help builders go beyond these standards. Built Green promotes best known practices and is responsive to regional environmental issues to give homeowners added value and peace of mind.
- How the program works
- Design competition spurs increase in Built Green homes
- Case studies on design competition winners
- How to use Built Green in your project
How the Program Works
The Built Green program provides architects and builders with a checklist of strategies and actions that will make a home healthier, more efficient, and easier on the environment. Topics include building to green codes and regulations, site and water considerations, energy efficiency, health and indoor air quality, materials efficiency, and promoting environmentally friendly homeowner maintenance. Points for the checklist items are tallied to designate the level of performance achieved by the home, from one to five stars. The more points attained, the higher the home’s overall environmental and health performance.
There are four Built Green program checklists addressing different sectors of the residential market: Home Builder, Remodeler, Multifamily, and Communities. The Built Green logo helps home-buyers and renters to find homes that reflect their values. Built Green homes are cost-competitive to purchase, save money on utilities, earn more value as an investment, are healthier, and help to preserve the Northwest environment.
Design Competition Spurs Increase in Built Green Homes
In 2003, less than 1% of the nearly 2,500 Built Green-certified homes in King and Snohomish counties were located in Seattle. To stimulate the growth in green home development, the City launched a Built Green™ Design Competition (read about competition winners) and multifamily incentive program and initiated an education and outreach program to increase participation among local builders.
Together these programs spurred considerable growth in the Built Green market. As of August 2005 the number of Built Green-certified projects in Seattle had jumped from 12 to 84 in just two years. This represents 342 total green housing units for Seattleites. In 2004 Built Green homes represented 17% of all new residential construction in King and Snohomish counties.
Case Studies on Design Competition Winners
We're pleased to feature case studies on seven Built Green projects that won awards in the 2003 design competition. These winners demonstrate how smart technologies, eco-friendly materials, energy-efficiency and other green features combine to make a great living environment. single family, multifamily, and mixed-use structures, as well as a visionary community redevelopment at High Point in West Seattle. Each case study provides an inside look at the goals and challenges experienced by the project team--owner, builder, architect, engineer and developer--as well as the lessons they learned from being at the cutting edge of green building.
- Capitol Hill House
- Eva Rose Building
- The Green Compact
- High Point
- Huppert Remodel/Addition
- Katharine's Place
- Sensible House
How to Use Built Green in Your Project
To use Built Green in your project, choose a project type below:
To learn more about Built Green, visit their websitewww.builtgreen.net.
