Built Green is the way to go

• Published April 22, 2008

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Homes built in South Sound with energy savings and the environment in mind are here to stay.

The Built Green movement went mainstream here in South Sound in 2004. That's when Olympia Master Builders, a professional trade association, launched a voluntary program for builders to certify their homes as energy efficient and environmentally friendly on a rating scale based on what features are designed and constructed into the home.

It's important to note that many area builders have incorporated sustainable building practices into their homes for years. It's also worth noting that there are a number of contractors who have yet to embrace the concept.

Nevertheless, the statistics on Built Green homes maintained by OMB suggest this building technique is catching on like never before.

In 2004, OMB recorded 10 Built Green homes. That increased to 38 in 2006 and 133 in 2007. Through March 31, another 32 Built Green homes certified by OMB went on the market in the region, which includes Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Grays Harbor and Pacific counties.

Consumer demand will drive a steady growth in Built Green homes, Scott Bergford of Scott Homes predicted. As the demand grows, so will the number of builders seeking Built Green.

So what is a Built Green home? Here are a few of the things to look for when buying one:

• Built Green homes are energy efficient, sited on the property to take advantage of passive solar power, insulated beyond building code standards and equipped with building materials that make the home easier to heat.

Energy-saving features are among the most critical and represent some of the best opportunities for homeowners to recoup costs over time. The prices of natural gas and electricity continue to climb, so the less it takes to heat and power a home, the more the pocketbook savings.

• The homes pay special attention to indoor air quality, using nontoxic paints, finishes, carpets and cabinets to reduce or eliminate air pollutants in the home.

• Recycled building materials are used to preserve natural resources.

• Water-saving appliances and fixtures are found in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry room.

• Building material debris is recycled during construction, and landscaping around the home is designed to reduce surface-water runoff, conserve water and prevent soil erosion.

The Built Green approach to homes is akin to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program offered by the U.S. Green Building Council to certify that commercial buildings are designed and built to conserve energy and protect the environment.

LEED-certified buildings are cropping up all over South Sound, propelled in part by a law passed by the 2005 state Legislature that requires all new state-funded buildings of at least 5,000 square feet to be built to the LEED "silver" standard, its third-lowest tier.

Built Green and LEED features add construction costs. But they also save owners money in the long run and benefit the environment and health of their occupants, too.