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Updated handbooks and checklists for Built Green single-family and multifamily homes are available from the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. The new publications include significant updates in response to code changes, and a new section on Equity and Social Justice.
Built Green, established in partnership with King and Snohomish counties in 1999, is a green home certification program of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. The nonprofit program uses rating systems and green building scores to classify projects as three, four or five stars.
As of June 2020, Built Green had certified over 20,000 single-family and multifamily projects totaling 36,000 housing units, far exceeding original expectations. In 2019, MBAKS reported 73% of all new single-family homes built in Seattle were Built Green certified.
Impact calculations confirm Built Green homes significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions, water use, runoff, and construction waste.
Client demands and healthier buildings are the “top two triggers” for green building in the U.S. according to the U.S. Green Building Council, which adds, “but the economic benefits can’t be overlooked. The Council cites research documenting operating cost savings, shorter payback periods, and increased asset value in new green buildings and green retrofits.
USGBC also notes upfront investment in green building makes properties more valuable, with owners typically realizing a 10% or greater increase in asset value.
In addition to certifying green homes, remodels, multifamily building, and communities, Built Green hosts a membership network of companies and individuals involved in the green building industries. Built Green also conducts research and markets the social and environmental benefits of green building.
Details on membership options, the Built Green certification process, the project enrollment process, and resources for consumers and builders are online at the Built Green website.