Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/1257023
P uget Sound's mountains, forests, farms, and waterways are not just beautiful— they provide clean water and air, healthy food, and recreation. They're why so many choose to call our region home. And they're why twenty years ago, MBAKS took action to promote homes that complement and sustain our natural infrastructure. For two decades, the MBAKS Built Green program has certified healthy, sustainable, and innovative homes representing the greenest building practices available in the industry. Built Green has sought to be a driving force for environmentally sound design, construction, and development practices in Washington. Built Green doesn't just certify single-family and multifamily homes and remodels; it also brings together members from every corner of the green building industry to share knowledge, research, and communicate the benefits for both people and the environment. When Built Green launched in 2001, just over 20 companies signed up. By 2005, 300 members had certified 6,000 projects, representing 17% of all new home construction in King County. By 2018, 70% of all new single-family homes and townhouses in the city of Seattle were certified. Built Green has become Washington's de facto green homebuilding standard. This year it will certify its 20,000th home—that's 10,000 certified homes for each decade the program has operated. The Greening of Homebuilding In the 1990s, LEED was the standard-bearer of voluntary green building certification, bringing innovations to commercial buildings that reduced their environmental footprint and improved human health. The decade also saw the passage of the Growth Management Act, which created urban growth boundaries and encouraged municipalities to pursue smart growth strategies. Concurrently, Eastside cities like Issaquah were seriously considering green homebuilding standards. If MBAKS didn't act to create voluntary standards, expensive—and involuntary—standards might be imposed. Sustainability had entered the building world in a big way and homebuilding would either adapt or decline. In an interview, 2003 MBAKS President Todd Bennett and founding member of the Built Green Steering Committee explained the thinking of the time: "We have 40-plus jurisdictions where we build, and we might have 40 different green rules mandated by each city. We thought, let's get ahead of it." The MBA realized it could play its part in the green building revolution by promoting quality homes. While involuntary certification might lead builders to do just enough to meet a set standard, a voluntary, industry-led system would spur competition, leading to innovation and ever-higher building standards. And thus, a steering committee was formed to develop the program and establish a certification point system. The point system was In 2007, Built Green certified their 10,000th home. Built between White Center and Burien, it featured a Built Green certified YWCA learning center. "We have 40-plus jurisdictions where we build, and we might have 40 different green rules mandated by each city … let's get ahead of it." TODD BENNETT, 2003 MBAKS President BDR Holdings' 91-unit Sonata building achieved 4-Star certification with low-VOC products, no added urea formaldehyde millwork and cabinets, and CRI Green Label Plus carpets. PHOTO: HEISER MEDIA 15 SUMMER 2020 | master BUILDER