Homeowner & Buyer Resources

Informing and educating home buyers on the value of a home that meets Built Green® standards are one of the primary undertakings of the program. An informed buyer recognizes the value of greater energy efficiency, healthier indoor air, reduced water usage, and improved comfort. Sustainable building practices go beyond energy and water conservation, resource efficient building materials and superior indoor environmental quality. Some of the key benefits to a homeowner in building a Built Green® home are:

• Lower fuel/energy and water costs

• Efficient use of building materials

• Enhanced health and productivity

• Long-term economic returns

• Reduced environmental impact

Built Green® Factsheets

Please feel free to download our Built Green® Factsheets to help you learn more about the different features of a Built Green® Home:

Energy Efficiency
Water Efficiency
Indoor Health
Smart Landscaping

Look for the Built Green® Logo

The Built Green® logo is your assurance that your builder has certified that your new home contains selected Built Green® features and meets the criteria on the Built Green® checklist. Be sure to check the list of participating builders to locate a Built Green builder in your area. 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 www.inwbuiltgreen.org or contacting the Built Green® Coordinator Toby Broemmeling at tbroemmeling@shba.com or call 509-532-4990.

Helpful Reading to Learn More about Green Building Practices

Book:  Building Green in a Black and White World - Environmental consultant David Johnson in his book “Building Green in a Black and White World” provides extensive survey information on home buyers’ preference of green homes. One national survey puts the percentage of the market that is open to and interested in green buildings at a whopping 50%. This is proof enough for the growing popularity and demand for green homes. Builders can join their local green building programs to take advantage of this growing market segment. Home buyers can opt for green homes, which are energy efficient, environmentally friendly, durable and cost efficient.

Book:  ecoDesign:  The Sourcebook by Alastair Fuad-Luke - The latest edition of this definitive sourcebook includes up-to-the-minute listings for more than seven hundred consumer products from clothing to kitchenware, electronics to furniture that have a minimal impact on the earth while remaining useful and beautiful. This remarkable compendium also directs readers to little known gems and handcrafted objects from artisanal studios. Detailed, illustrated entries describe the products, while an extensive reference section defines new and hybrid materials and provides information on manufacturers, design studios, and green organizations. ecoDesign remains the total resource guide for the new generation of contemporary design.

Book:  Green from the Ground Up:  Sustainable, Healthy and Energy Efficient Home Construction (Buyer's Guide) by David Johnston and Scott Gibson - Green from the Ground Up starts with clear explanations of the concepts and fundamentals of green, healthy and energy-efficient construction and walks the reader through the entire construction process, injecting expert advice at every decision point. Construction techniques, materials, and products are thoroughly explained, making the often vaguely understood concepts cleanly understandable. The book gives builders and architects the tools to respond to growing requests from homeowners for green and energy-efficient houses, whether new or remodeled. Homeowners can use the book to understand the concepts, process, and options, whether they're doing it themselves or working with a professional.

Book:  Green Remodeling:  Changing the World One Room at a Time by David Johnston & Kim Master - The book discusses simple green renovation solutions for homeowners, focusing on key aspects of the building, including foundations, framing, plumbing, windows, heating and finishes. Room by room, it outlines the intricate connections that make the house work as a system. For example, how new windows may affect the structure and mechanical systems of the rooms below, the health of the family and the future of old-growth forests. Then, in an easy-to-read format complete with checklists, personal stories, expert insights and an extensive resource list, it covers easy ways to save energy, conserve natural resources and protect the health of loved ones. Addressing all climates, this is a perfect resource for conventional homeowners, as well as for architects and remodeling contractors.

Green Building A to Z:  Understanding the Language of Green Building by Jerry Yudelson - Green building is the fastest-growing trend to hit since the Internet, bringing with it an enormous range of new products, systems, and technologies. Green Building A to Z is an informative, technically accurate, and highly visual guide to green building, for both decision-makers and interested citizens. It begins with an introduction to the importance of green buildings and a brief history of the green building movement, outlines the benefits and costs of green buildings, and shows how you can influence the spread of green buildings. The book touches on key issues, such as enhancing water conservation, reducing energy use, and creating a conservation economy.

The Carbon-Free Home buy Stephen & Rebeka Hren - With an endearing mix of down-to-earth practical solutions and funky DIY projects, this book provides readers with much-needed information on how to renovate habits and home to move closer to a zero-carbon existence. The Hrens, respectively a carpenter and a photovoltaic installer living in Durham, N.C., give specific and technical advice, based on their own experience, on how to lower energy use within and outside the house, with 36 projects ranging from simple and inexpensive activities like sealing drafts, resetting the water heater thermostat and planting potatoes in a barrel to more heavy-duty and costly tasks such as installing a green roof or a solar hot-water heater and replacing a lawn with a permaculture garden.  Just about anyone will find something useful to do in this book, and the detailed, clear and enlightening chapter on understanding home energy use is, alone, almost worth the purchase price.