Built Green is a network of contractors, builders, developers, architects, designers, subcontractors, suppliers, lenders, and real estate agents working together to improve quality of life in Santa Barbara.
The Built Green program accomplishes this by using a menu of options that provide quality homes and buildings.
Built Green is a voluntary, building program designed to create market distinction for builders and architects who incorporate "green" building practices into their projects. The program offers 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-Star levels that are self-certifying. The Built Green logo and the program behind it will bring real value and meaningful benefits to builders, architects, homeowners and building owners.
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 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 projects already. By offering a home or commercial building certified in the Built Green program, you help consumers instantly recognize the extra care you put into building their project 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.
Built Green can improve your bottom line, and your customers can get more home for their money. Projects using the Built Green program incorporate environmentally features that add value and reduce the life-cycle cost of the home or building. Often these features add little or nothing to the first cost of the project. At the highest levels of the program 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
Marketing Tools
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Website Member Listing
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Consumer Brochures
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Window Decals
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Vehicle Decals
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Free Materials for Homeowner's Kit
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Use of Built Green Logos -- Camera-Ready Logo Provided
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Yard Sign Artwork Available
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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 or building 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 project:
Quality Enhancing Features of Built Green
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Controlled Ventilation and Filtration - goes beyond code to provide a safer and healthier indoor environment.
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"Friendly" Paints, Sealers, Adhesives and Solvents - low-toxic formulas reduce exposure to harmful chemicals.
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Extra Energy Efficient Shell - going beyond code, the home or building provides a quieter, more comfortable interior prized by owners.
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Recycled-Content Carpeting - looks and performs like conventional synthetic carpeting; is highly resistant to fading, stains, and static shock.
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Natural Alternatives to Wood Flooring - in flooring and countertops, bamboo, cork, for example, offer a natural look while being more stable and more long-lasting than conventional products.
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Innovative Bio-Composite Products - new products add decorative flair to a home on the market.
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Recycled-Content Ceramic Tile - performs like conventional ceramic tile.
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"Friendly" Insulation - a variety available including low toxic, recycled content, and high density options.
Quality Enhancing Exterior Features
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Fiber Cement Siding - lasts 30 years longer than conventional siding products and is easier to maintain.
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Drought Tolerant Landscaping - protects and beautifies the site, reduces water consumption and routine yard maintenance.
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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 and buildings 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
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Advanced Framing Technique - provides more insulation while saving lumber costs by 10% or more.
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Passive Solar Sitting and Design - uses nature's energy, not the utility's, to supplement heating and lighting.
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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.
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Compact Fluorescent Lighting - uses one-quarter to one-third as much electricity as incandescent and last 10 times longer.
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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.
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Native Landscaping - reduces water consumption as much as 50%, requires less maintenance and little or no chemical treatments.
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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.
Do Consumers Want It?
A recent 2004 survey conducted at the Washington PSE Built Green Idea Home in Issaquah Highlands, visitors responded that the most important features to them are, in descending order:
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Controlled ventilation for clean air, followed by
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Use of renewable/recycled materials
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Clean water & water conservation
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Low-emitting materials
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Energy efficiency
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Built Green certification
It was also found that a $20,000 premium for added green features was NOT a barrier in the price range $560,000. It is not insignificant that Built Green certification is Number Six: while consumers want and expect higher indoor air quality, energy efficiency, water conservation, and the wise use of resources, they also want to be assured that they're getting it. The builder's, remodeler's, developers or architects signature on the Built Green project checklist provides that extra reassurance.
How Did The Program Start?
Built Green was developed by the Santa Barbara Contractors Association. Committees and workgroups met for over a year to develop Built Green. The group included builders, remodelers, and architects from the SBCA membership, along with representatives of several interested community groups and local government representatives.
We started out with a Mission: To work in partnership to improve and protect the valuable natural features and environmental resources within Santa BarbaraCounty to promote safer, healthier building.
The Santa Barbara Contractors Association is proud of the Built Green program. We believe it to be one of the most comprehensive green building programs in the country. 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. Special thanks to Master Builders Association (MBA) of King and SnohomishCounties , located in Bellevue , Washington and thanks to the Home Builders Association of Kitsap County and the Clark County Home Builders Association, for allowing their green home building programs – Built Green Kitsap and Built Green of Southwestern Washington - to serve as models for developing our Built Green program.
How Does Built Green Work?
The Built Green program has been designed for builders, architects and developers by builders to set standards of excellence in Santa Barbara. It focuses on actions that can make a significant impact on housing, health, and the environment and are readily "do-able" in Santa BarbaraCounty today.
Building projects are qualified using a Built Green checklist organized into six environmentally friendly action categories. Builders and architects use the checklist prior to construction to determine which features to include in the project. When construction is complete, the builder or architect send a signed copy of the checklist to the SBCA, certifying that the project identified in the application contains the identified features. Based upon that builder/architect certification and verification where applicable, and after reviewing the application, the SBCA will award the appropriate Certificate of Merit indicating that the project has achieved a 1-, 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 local & state energy, air quality, water efficiency, and stormwater management standards. Built Green recognizes you for meeting these standards.
Site & Water Protection
Built Green offers a variety of common-sense site and water protection and development techniques you can use to earn points.
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.
Health and Air Quality
Promote good air quality, before, during, and after construction. Your clients and crews will be both healthier and safer.
Materials 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!
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 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 architects vary with whether or not the builder/architect is a member of the Santa Barbara Contractors Association. If you are not a member of the SBCA, you can learn more about membership at the SBCA's website at www.sbcontractors.org.
Associates: You can join the program as well. Call Built Green Santa Barbara at 805-884-1100 or email info@builtgreensb.org to find out how you can become part of the Built Green team.
Enroll Your Projects
Contractors, Builders, Subcontractors, Remodelers, Developers, Architects, Designers: 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. As a Built Green Program Participant, you will receive one handbook for the program. You can get an idea of what's possible in any Built Green project by viewing the Built Green checklist.
