Built Green is a network of contractors, builders, developers, subcontractors, architects, designers, 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 which, compared to standard homes and buildings, are more cost-effective to own and operate, healthier, safer, and more protective of our beautiful south coast environment. Built Green is a Program of the Santa Barbara Contractors Association Education Foundation, Inc. a 501c3 non profit corporation.

Contractors in California already build to some of the toughest energy, air quality, storm water management, and water efficiency standards in the nation. Based on choices by the builder and homeowner, Built Green™ goes beyond even these standards to give you added value, added peace of mind. Click here for more information >>

Building projects are qualified using a Built Green checklist organized into six categories of environmentally friendly action items. Currently there are three checklists to choose from Remodels & Additions, Residential New Construction, and Commercial Construction. Builders/architetcs choose and use one of the checklists prior to construction to determine which features to include in the project and to track progress. When construction is complete, the builder or architect sends a signed copy of the checklist to Built Green, certifying that the building identified in the project enrollment form contains the identified features. Based upon that builder certification, and after reviewing the application, Built Green will award the appropriate Certificate of Merit indicating that the project has received a 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5- Star rating. All 4-Star and 5-Star projects require third-party verification. Features included in the Built Green checklists include:

Green Building Codes 

Site & Water Protection 

Energy Efficiency 

Health and Air Quality

Materials Efficiency

Environmentally Responsible Home and building Ownership

Each Built Green checklist provides the framework for builders or architects to qualify new homes, remodels, communities or commercial projects (checklists available for Remodels & Additions, Residential New Construction, Commercial Construction) for inclusion in one of the three programs. There are several important areas that are addressed in the checklists:

Site and Water

The Built Green program places a high priority on water conservation and quality. The action items include practices to conserve water, protect natural features, prevent erosion, promote and to otherwise improve water quality.

Energy Efficiency

A Built Green home or building can be designed and constructed to maximize energy savings by reducing heat loss through a combination of design elements and building practices, thereby making the home or building more economical to operate.

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality can be improved through a series of practices and features that reduce indoor pollutants such as installing low toxic finishes.

Material Selection

Builders use design and material selections that can result in conserving limited resources. Using recycled content products reduces the use of "virgin" materials. Using current waste minimizing practices can contribute to the overall efficiency of the project. Encouraging builders to use locally manufactured products also reduces the energy used to get them to the job site.

The Built Green program is a voluntary self-certification program. The program requires builders or architects to follow a specific set of criteria to attain status as a "Built Green" home, community or building. Beyond these standards, builders and architects will earn a rating based on a point system. After reviewing the completed checklist provided by the builder/architect, Built Green will issue a 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-Star rating for the project. 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-Star levels are self-certifying with the builders or architects signature required as confirmation that items on the checklist have been completed. All 4-Star and 5-Star projects require third-party verification.

Successful programs of this nature are hosted in Denver, Colorado, Atlanta, Georgia, Portland, Oregon, Wisconsin, Scottsdale, Arizona, Austin, Texas, Florida, Hawaii, Vermont, Canada and in Seattle, Washington.

The Built Green logo is assurance that your builder or architect has certified that your new home or building contains selected Built Green features and meets the criteria on the Built Green checklist. Be sure to check the list of participating builders and architects on the Built Green website and the Santa Barbara Contractors Association website. If your contractor is not currently a member of Built Green, please encourage them to join today by directing them to the Built Green website or by calling the Built Green program at (805) 884-1100 or email info@builtgreensb.org .