Builder Certification
The Built Green® program is designed to provide builders with a unique opportunity to meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly home building. Homeowners today are sensitive to issues of: water conservation, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality. The Built Green® program gives builders the tools they need to meet this growing demand. Built Green® is a network of architects, builders, subcontractors, suppliers and real estate agents working together to improve quality of life in Klickitat, Kittitas and Yakima Counties by providing quality homes that are cost-effective to own and operate, healthy and safe, and protective of our beautiful Pacific Northwest environment.
- What Is Built Green?
- What Are The Benefits of Joining Built Green?
- What Additional Tools Are Provided By Joining Built Green?
- How Does Built Green Add Quality?
- How Does Built Green Add Affordability?
- How Did The Program Start?
- How Does Built Green Work?
What Is Built Green®?
Built Green® is a voluntary, home building program designed to create market distinction for builders who incorporate the "green" building practices in their homes. The program offers 2- and 3-Star levels that are self-certifying, and 4- and 5-Star levels that require third party verification. The Built Green® logo and the program behind it will bring real value and meaningful benefits to both builders and homeowners.
Built Green® Focuses on Green Features Consumers Want
Consumer surveys show a rapidly increasing interest in environmentally friendly or "green" home features like those promoted through the Central Washington Built Green® program. Today's homebuyers seek greater comfort and health, increased durability, and the satisfaction of knowing they are protecting the environment.
It Shows You Are Willing to Do More
You are probably including many Built Green® features in your homes already. By offering a home certified in the Built Green® program, you help consumers instantly recognize the extra care you put into building their home and into protecting our environment. The Built Green® logo tells them you're offering a structure that's extra energy-efficient, healthier indoors, and crafted with superior workmanship.
It Opens the Door to Green Mortgages
Several lending institutions have begun pilot loan programs that offer "green" mortgage financing to consumers whose homes meet specific "green" criteria, including energy efficiency. In addition, Built Green's waste reduction practices are designed to help your competitiveness and bottom line by helping you to reduce costs.
What Are The Benefits Of Joining Built Green®?
Built Green® can improve your bottom line, and your customers can get more home for their money. Homes built using the Built Green® program incorporate environmental features that add value and reduce the life-cycle cost of the home. Often these features add little or nothing to the first cost of the home. At the highest levels of the program (4- and 5-Star) there may be some additional cost, but it can be outweighed by added value. Ultimately, Built Green® provides you with additional tools, and adds quality and affordability!
What Additional Tools Are Provided By Joining Built Green®?
When you join Built Green® you get:
Information
- Easy to Read Handbook
- Free Orientation - "Introduction to Built Green"
Marketing Tools
- Website Member Listing
- Listing in Built Green News Electronic Newsletter
- Listing in CWHBA Magazine
- Window Decals
- Vehicle Decals
- Free Materials for Homeowner's Kit
- Use of Built Green Logos -- Camera-Ready Logo Provided
- Yard Sign Artwork Available
- Certificate of Merit for each certified project
How Does Built Green® Add Quality?
Many environmentally friendly products provide multiple benefits that translate to improved performance of the home and increased customer satisfaction. For example, Built Green® promotes use of more durable building products. This not only saves resources, but also reduces maintenance and replacement costs and saves the owner valuable time. Here are some examples of the types of features that could be included inside a Built Green® home:
Quality Enhancing Features Of Built Green®
- Controlled Ventilation and Filtration - goes beyond code to provide a safer and healthier indoor environment.
- "Friendly" Paints, Sealers, Adhesives and Solvents - low-toxic formulas reduce exposure to harmful chemicals.
- Extra Energy Efficient Shell - going beyond code, the home provides a quieter, more comfortable interior prized by homeowners.
- Recycled-Content Carpeting - looks and performs like conventional synthetic carpeting; is highly resistant to fading, stains, and static shock.
- Natural Alternatives to Wood - in flooring and countertops, bamboo, cork, linoleum, for example, offer a natural look while being more stable and more long-lasting than conventional products.
- Innovative Bio-Composite Products - new products add decorative flair to a home on the market.
- Recycled-Content Ceramic Tile - performs like conventional ceramic tile.
- "Friendly" Insulation - a variety available including low toxic, recycled content, and high density options.
Quality Enhancing Exterior Features
- Fiber Cement Siding - lasts 30 years longer than conventional siding products and is easier to maintain.
- Drought Tolerant Landscaping - protects and beautifies the site, reduces water consumption and routine yard maintenance.
- Erosion Control and Preservation of Topsoil during construction not only protects soil from washing away into streams, but reapplying topsoil after construction helps plants grow better and require less irrigation.
How Does Built Green® Add Affordability?
Buyers save money because energy efficient homes generate lower utility bills and maintenance costs. Now, it may also be possible to qualify for a higher loan amount and buy a better home for a lower monthly cost. Examples of other first cost or operational savings are below.
Dollar Saving Features of Built Green®
- Advanced Framing Technique - provides more insulation while saving lumber costs by 10% or more.
- Passive Solar Sitting and Design - uses nature's energy, not the utility's, to supplement heating and lighting.
- Radiant Floor Heating - generating an ambient temperature of 65 degrees can provide the same comfort as a forced air system generating an ambient temperature of 72 degrees, shaving 20% to 40% off heating bills.
- Compact Fluorescent Lighting - uses one-quarter to one-third as much electricity as incandescents and last 10 times longer.
- Front Loading (Horizontal-Axis) Clothes Washers - use one-third as much water as conventional washers, reducing water and energy use by two-thirds. They are also quieter and cause less wear on fabrics.
- Native Landscaping - reduces water consumption as much as 50%, requires less maintenance and little or no chemical treatments.
- Water-conserving Showerheads and Faucets - can cut hot water use in half, saving a family of four 14,000 gallons of water a year and the energy required to heat it.
How Did The Program Start?
The Central Washington Home Builders Association (CWHBA) formed the Central Washington Built Green® Association and worked in partnership with: City of Ellensburg, City of Yakima, Kittitas County and the Washington State Department of Ecology with funding assistance from the Washington State Department of Ecology, Puget Sound Energy, Whirlpool, and Mold Solutions Northwest. A group of builders, designers, construction material suppliers, and local government representatives met for over a year to develop the Built Green® program.
The Central Washington Home Builders Association is proud of the fact that the Built Green® program is based on the preliminary National Association of Home Builders, National Draft Standard, which is projected to achieve National Standard accreditation by February of 2008. We sought to develop a program that would encourage everyone to participate, while still challenging the leading-edge providers. In this, and in achieving our mission overall, we believe we are successful.
We gratefully acknowledge the green building programs that have laid the foundation for our excellent program - Thanks to Metro Denver Home Builders Association's Built Green® program, the first such program in the country, for leading the way and for permission to use the trademarked name Built Green®. And thanks to the Home Builders Association of Kitsap County and the Clark County Home Builders Association for allowing their green home building programs to be used as models, and the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties for spending countless hours to brand the Built Green® name and informing consumers on the extensive benefits of building green.
How Does Built Green® Work?
The Built Green® program has been designed for builders and developers by builders and developers to set standards of excellence in Kittitas, Klickitat and Yakima counties. It focuses on actions that can make a significant impact on housing, health, and the environment and are readily "do-able" in Kittitas, Klickitat and Yakima counties today.
Building projects are qualified using a Built Green® checklist organized into six environmentally friendly action categories. Builders use the checklist prior to construction to determine which features to include in the home. When construction is complete, builders send a signed copy of the checklist to the CWBGA, certifying that the home identified in the application contains the identified features. For the 4- and 5-Star levels the builder or designer must engage a qualified third party to verify the checklist. Based upon that builder certification and verification where applicable, and after reviewing the application for compliance, the CWBGA will award the appropriate Certificate of Merit indicating that the home has achieved a 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-star rating.
Features included in the Built Green® checklist include:
Green Codes
As a builder, you are required to meet energy, air quality, water efficiency, and stormwater management standards. Built Green® recognizes you for meeting these standards.
Lot Design Site and Development
Built Green® offers a variety of common-sense site development techniques you can use to earn points.
Resource Efficiency
Numerous options help you reduce job-site waste, saving both you and your customer money. By using resource-efficient materials, you not only reduce the impact of construction on the environment, you get credit for doing it!
Energy Efficiency
Push your project beyond the energy code! Your project will earn points and your customer will enjoy increased comfort and reduced energy bills.
Water Efficiency
Measures that reduce indoor and outdoor water usage are implemented.
Indoor Environmental Air Quality
Promote good air quality, before, during, and after construction. Your clients and crews will be both healthier and safer.
Environmentally Responsible Home Ownership
This category recognizes the importance of making certain the Built Green® home stays "green." By integrating homeowner education in your approach you provide your customers with value-added services.
Join The Built Green Team!
Make sure your home projects earn the Built Green® logo. You can join by filling out the Built Green® Annual Participation Form. A fee schedule is provided with the form. The participation fees for builders and developers vary with whether or not the builder/developer is a member of the Central Washington Home Builders Association. If you are not a member of the CWHBA, you can learn more about membership at the CWHBA's membership pages.
Associates: You can join the program as well. Call the Central Washington Home Builders Association at (800) 492-9422 or email cfaul@cwhba.org to find out how you can become part of the Built Green team.
Enroll Your Projects
Builders, Designers, Remodelers, Developers: If you are already signed up for the Built Green® program, use the Built Green® Project Enrollment Form as a first step towards qualifying your Built Green® projects. Use the Built Green® Handbook as a reference and resource guide for achieving the green credits in the checklist.