Author: Jane Wybenga, Built Green Coordinator One of the most common questions we hear when attending sustainability events is “what can I do as a renter?”. This blog post is intended to answer that question and serve as a resource for renters who are looking to make sustainable home improvements but aren’t sure where to start. While there are some limitations for renters that do not apply to homeowners, there are still a lot of actions that can contribute to living a budget-friendly, ecologically-conscience lifestyle. Since structural and large-scale changes are out of the question for rental ..read more

Certification: Built Green Remodel and Zero Carbon Emissions Label The artistic homeowners of this Greenwood bath and kitchen remodel viewed their home as the latest canvas for their artistic expression. Intention and personality shine through all the color, patterns, and small details. As artists, the homeowners’ goals were focused on the long-term livability of their home, showcasing their love of art and color, and limiting their impact on the environment. When Nathan Coons, of , presented the idea of certifying their remodel with Built Green’s new 2023 Remodel certification, there was no h ..read more

The 2023 Built Green Conference, presented by DTG, was held on September 14 at the Lynnwood Event Center. We would like to extend a huge thank you to those who sponsored, presented, attended, and volunteered to make the Built Green Conference such a success. The day was filled with reunions, new connections, networking, and captivataing sessions. Our morning keynote, Roger Ballentine, President of encouraged us to keep doing the work we are doing. He shared insight into the transition to a greener economy and explained that the market will continue to change to value climate solutions. He remi ..read more

As per tradition, at the 2023 Built Green Conference we recognized Built Green’s outstanding builders and advocates during our annual Built Green Hammer Award ceremony. The best projects from the past year were highlighted and Built Green supporters were recognized for their contributions to the program. This year the award plaques were made from salvaged sequoia planks, locally sourced from Builder, Custom or Small Speculative, less than 10 homes Builder, Small Production, 10 to 100 homes Builder, Large Production, over 100 homes Builder, Small Multifamily, less than 50 units Builder, Medium ..read more

With the heatwaves of summer coming to an end it’s time to kick off your conference season with the annual , presented by DTG Recycle, at the Lynnwood Event Center on September 14th. With a multitude of housing laws passed, impending energy code changes, every city steeped in updating their comprehensive plans, and Built Green relaunching its Remodel certification, 2023 was rightly named the “Year of Housing” in Washington. This year’s speakers and sessions were curated to highlight market-based climate solutions that balance advantageous economic opportunities with tackling the environmental ..read more

Dwell Development Lake House 2.0: Turning Old Into New Net Zero Energy Checklist: 2009 Remodel and 2017 Single Family/Townhome New Construction Health and Indoor Air Quality: 138 Health and Indoor Air Quality: 141 Just north of the entrance to Seward Park, directly across from the water’s edge resides The Lake House. Built in 1919, the historical home was designed by renowned California-raised architect, , in the Spanish Eclectic style reminiscent of the homes found in Pasadena. A street-to-street lot, prime location, and a magical facade sparked the interest of the founders of (Dwell), Abbey ..read more

With a sharp focus on low-carbon, high performance construction, recently completed this 5-Star DADU in the Greenwood neighborhood of North Seattle. Salvaged and carbon sequestering materials were used at every opportunity, and the airtight all-electric home features an advanced envelope and mechanical systems for superior comfort and indoor air quality. Checklist: 2021 Single Family/Townhome New Construction engaged with the homeowner to create a multigenerational site for their family with the addition of this backyard cottage. The design features a bedroom and bathroom on each floor, as wel ..read more

Model Remodel—A Mediterranean Transformation of a Midcentury Modern In the shadow of a mature tree canopy, ’s contemporary home combines Northwest living with Mediterranean pattern and colors. This Built Green 4-Star certified home recently was awarded a 2023 REX Award for Green Remodel . The 1950s home was fully remodeled, including a 2nd story addition for a primary suite. Integration of indoor spaces with the natural environment was a key element to its redesign. The open floor plan with generous windows and glass doors creates a front-to-back view through the entire home, and easy access t ..read more

The 2022 Built Green Conference, presented by DTG, was held on September 15 at South Seattle College. We would like to extend a huge thank you to those who sponsored, presented, attended, and volunteered to make the Built Green Conference such a success. The day was filled with reunions, new connections, networking, and captivating sessions tackling everything from building science to policy to increasing housing and affordability in our communities. Throughout the day the year’s theme “Becoming the Change” was embodied by our speakers. They shared personal stories and concepts that delved int ..read more

As per tradition, at the 2022 Built Green Conference we recognized Built Green’s outstanding builders and advocates during our annual Built Green Hammer Award ceremony. The best projects from the past year were highlighted and Built Green supporters were recognized for their contributions to the program. This year the award plaques were made from salvaged madrona planks that were cut from sustainable, urban-harvested logs from the Pacific Northwest. Builder, Custom or Small Speculative, less than 10 homes Krekow Jennings built a nearly 10,000SF net positive energy luxury lakeshore home. Hoedem ..read more