Builtgreen is a copywrited and nationally-recognized name for environmentally-friendly construction developed by the Home Building Industry. Builtgreen Whatcom County is a variation of this national program developed to address the specific concerns of our area.

There are many codes, practices, and government regulations that address these issues. It was the intent of the local program to develop new ideas which would exceed what is required.

The Builtgreen checklist to qualify a home for certification is divided into several different major categories: 

1. Site and Storm Water;
2. Energy Efficiency;
3. Health and Indoor Air Quality; 
4. Material Efficiency.

Let us examine a few considerations:

SITE AND STORM WATER

1. Protect natural features:
   • move the minimum amount of dirt;
   • protect trees and natural vegetation.
2. Minimize impervious surfaces to allow rainwater to perculate.
3. Landscaping with native plants that require less water.
4. Rainwater control and use as rain gardens and cisterns.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
The State of Washington has one of the most restrictive energy codes in the United States; however, more can be done:

1. There are many new products and applications that improve efficiency. Those products of blown, sprayed, and
   foam types better achieve their energy savings through sealing instead of increasing the R value or resistence to heat
   loss.
2. The reduction of "Thermal Bridging" is a goal of structural framing methods that allows more insulation.
3. Solar energy can be utilized in many ways:
   • direct heating of piped water for domestic use;
   • solar panels that exchange energy for domestic hot water or space heating;
   • passive solar that allows solar gains through windows to be stored and used for space heating;
   • photovolstatic panels that produce electrical energy by using solar cells.
4. Heating and cooling mechanical systems:
   • mechanical heating and cooling systems with efficiencies of 94% readily available;
   • the distribution of the produced heat is being improved by insulating and sealing the ducts;
   • geothermal systems are becoming more popular; these systems utilize the natural heat in the ground.
5. Domestic water heating:
   • more efficient heating units have been developed;
   • the most exciting development has been the tankless water heater that eliminates the cost of keeping
   • the water in a tank when it is not being used.
6. Appliances are being developed that are much more energy efficient; they are often designated "Energy Star."
7. Lighting is being addressed with compact flourescent bulbs; but proper use of windows for natural light is of prime importance, particularly in the northwest.

HEALTH AND INDOOR AIR QUALITY
I believe that air quality is a major issue today because we spend up to 90% of our time in buildings. Indoor air
quality air can be worse than outdoor air; and, as we make the homes more air tight, this problem can increase.

1. The job site process can prevent capture of moisture in the walls.
2. Material choices have a major impact on the air quality:
   • use low or formaldehyde-free sheathings;
   • reduce carpeted areas that capture dust and pollutants;
   • use hardwood or bamboo;
   • low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints;
   • use construction materials and practices to reduce moisture problems such as taping windows before siding.
3. Axiom: "Seal tight and ventilate right." - Sealing tight allows the house to be controlled to exhaust polluted and moist air and introduce cleaner air:
   • new upgraded filters (HEPA) allow the indoor air to be recirculated without dust and other allergies;
   • air-to-air heat exchangers exhaust warm polluted air with cooler fresh air, and they have the benefit of exchanging the warm energy from the exhausted air to the incoming air for energy efficiency;
   • dehumidifiers remove excess moisture from the interior air to maintain a more healthy humidity at about 50%;
   • openable skylites can exhaust air without use of energy;
   • a positive pressure should be maintained in the interior to prevent toxins from garages to enter the house
     and cause moisture to enter the attic from the exterior.

EFFICIENT USE OF MATERIALS:

1. use quality materials that have a long life, such as Hardiplank siding with a 50-year guarantee or linoleum
   instead of vinyl flooring;
2. recycle materials, such as cardboard boxes;
3. use materials that contain recycled materials, such as carpets and tiles;
4. use salvaged materials or remilled salvage woods;
5. use engineered structural products, such as floor truss systems and glued laminated beams;
6. "sustainable " lumber products address the production of the lumber in a sustainable way.

The above list includes some of the items to be considered. There are hundreds of other processes and materials available to improve your home's energy efficiency, reduce its carbon footprint, and make it healthier.

Make sure you consider the cost and benefit of the Builtgreen items with respect to your house budget to obtain the best affordable value.