By Denny Conner, CRD Design Build

Q: How do I save money and still get a quality bathroom remodel?

A: When people contact us about remodeling a bathroom, one of their first questions is often about price. How much will it cost to turn a dated, worn-out space into a sparkling bathroom that looks great and suits your needs?

The total cost is based on many variables, but it can be higher than many people expect for such a small room and much more than the "fantasy" prices shown on reality TV.

That said, the amount you spend is within your control. Here are a few tips for minimizing your costs without cutting corners.

DO hire a designer

If your goal is to save money, it seems counterintuitive to hire a pro right at the start of your project. However, with a professional designer on your team, you will begin with a solid plan and a realistic budget, potentially avoiding expensive mistakes during construction. A professional designer will also help you navigate the numerous design decisions that pop up during your project. Hiring a contractor to start work without a fully thought-out plan is a recipe for disaster.

DON'T move the plumbing

While certain major bathroom renovations include the relocation of a toilet or tub, you'll save money by leaving them where they are. If you're remodeling a standard 5-by-7-foot bathroom, the basic layout you have is likely the only one that will work in your space. Even if you don't move fixtures, you will have plenty of opportunities to choose new ones to make your bathroom just right for you.

DO consider your tile options

Tile is durable, cleans easily, and has endless design possibilities. That's why it's such a popular choice for bathroom remodels. But if you want to keep the cost down, choose your tile wisely. Designer or artisan tile can add a one-of-a-kind look to your bathroom, but an interior designer can recommend lower-priced tile options, creative patterns, and interesting grout colors that will produce just as much pop for less.

Also, consider reducing the amount of tile. There's no reason the tile in your shower surround needs to reach the ceiling. And for walls away from the shower or tub, consider other materials, like painted wood bead board.

DON'T skimp on storage space

If you're trying to save money on your bathroom remodel, it's tempting to choose a smaller vanity or skimp on shelving. Please don't. Bathrooms need to be functional spaces and ample storage for all your stuff is a must. We've all seen bathrooms where every square inch of counter space is covered in cosmetics, hair products, and toothpaste tubes. To save money on cabinetry, consider lower-cost open shelving options.

DO choose quality plumbing fixtures

Bathroom plumbing fixtures vary widely in price and quality. As a rule of thumb, always choose the highest-quality fixtures your budget allows. They don't have to be fancy, but you do want them to last, especially if they are installed behind your walls, like your bath mixing valve.

DON'T forget about paint

Paint is a low-cost upgrade that can add lots of personality to your bathroom. Work with your designer to find the perfect color for an accent wall. Here's a tip: Keep your tile color neutral so you can update your paint color whenever you like. (It's way cheaper than re-tiling!)

DO choose cool light fixtures

Why do bathroom light fixtures tend to be an afterthought? With little effort, you can find fixtures that will make a statement for under $200. For general lighting, well-placed LED can lights can really brighten up your bathroom.

DON'T spend a fortune on your sink

Unlike kitchen sinks that really take a beating, bathroom sinks see relatively light duty. Skip the name brands and search online for a basic ceramic undermount model. Nobody will know the difference and you can put the savings into more decorative elements.

Denny Conner is the president of CRD Design Build and a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. HomeWork is the group's weekly column. If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question you'd like answered by one of the MBA's more than 2,800 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

By Zoe Ludwig, Built Green Intern | This is part three in a three-part series. Read parts one and two.

How is Built Green a Part of the Solution? 

Built Green is committed to all types of sustainability, including but not limited to environmental sustainability. In addition to working with local governments on green construction, Built Green also supports affordable housing and sustainable zoning practices. Built Green certification is granted through the use of a checklist, in which points are assigned to grade the “green-ness” of a home, including the location of the home. Built Green builder member companies can do their part and earn checklist points in the following ways: 

Single-Family Checklist

• Locate site within one of the Urban Growth Area (UGA) designated areas (five points)
• Provide accessory dwelling unit or accessory living quarters (10 points)
• Build within a quarter mile of a transit stop (three points)
• Design to promote and encourage pedestrian-friendly and safe neighborhoods (one to five points)
• Build on a lot that is within a half mile of at least six essential services, (e.g., grocery store, post office, place of worship, community center, daycare center, bank, school, restaurant, medical/dental office, laundromat/dry cleaner, etc.) (three points)
• Driveways or parking are shared between multiple units (four points)
• Proximity to bike amenities within one mile (three points) 

Multi-Family Checklist

• Create a transit-oriented development (15 points)
• Build within a quarter mile of a transit stop or park and ride (four points)
• Create a mixed-use building (15 points)
• Provide subsidized bus passes (25 percent or 50 percent subsidized) (six to ten points)
• Provide bicycle lockers or bicycle storage beyond code (two points)
• Provide bus shelters (two points)
• Provide dedicated parking spots for carpool or car-share vehicles (six points for first stall above code, two points for each additional, for a maximum of 12 points)
• Provide a link to community trails (two points)
• Avoid excessive outdoor light levels while maintaining adequate light for security and safe access (five points)

Many of these checklist items are regarding accessible transportation or community services. Enhancing these elements of home ownership and rentals can help end the stigma surrounding “dense” building by focusing on the positive aspects of community. Through our checklists, Built Green supports sustainable community on a project-by-project basis. We also actively participate in the discussion of how our region can be both greener and more inclusive, including at this year’s Built Green Conference.

“If you’re the quintessential suburbanite, density’s a swear word, if you’re an urbanist, it’s a buzzword,” says Branden Born of the University of Washington via The Seattle Times. Those who oppose denser building typically argue that it rids a neighborhood of its charm. But skyscrapers and towering apartment buildings aren’t the only ways to create more dense housing. For example, ADUs and DADUs (attached and detached mother-in-law units), duplexes, triplexes, and townhomes are great alternatives to the stereotypical approaches. Built Green is excited to have not only certified some of these building types, but to support the housing flexibility they bring. Still, these solutions require more inclusive zoning laws from the city. Check out more about how the ‘quintessential Seattle block’ can uphold charm and density.

The American Dream may still be alive and well, but it is dependent on people adopting an attitude of sustainable living. Now, the American dream is owning or renting a place that is comfortable for you. It’s waking up in the morning, walking a quarter mile or a half a mile to your bus stop. It’s coming home from work and saying hello to your neighbor in the grocery store in the downstairs level of your building. It’s knowing that your kids can have access to a good education, regardless of their zip code. We can learn from the shortcomings of those here before us and make this dream a possibility for all. Together, we can make living in the city more affordable, keep community sacred, and create a more united Puget Sound region.

Interested in this complex topic? At this year’s Built Green Conference, we are hosting a panel called From Exclusionary to Inclusionary: How Can We Make Our Region Inclusive, Resilient, and Vibrant? featuring Alan Durning of Sightline Institute, candidates for Seattle public office, and experts on environmental justice and community participation. Register for the conference today—ticket prices increase September 1!

Seattle's 1923 zoning map legend (Seattle Municipal Archives) See Seattle's most up-to-date zoning map.

By Zoe Ludwig, Built Green Intern | This is part two in a three-part series. Read part one.

How Does Exclusionary Zoning Work in Seattle? 

Seattle first adopted exclusionary zoning policies in 1923 through “an ordinance regulating and restricting the location of trades and industries; regulating and limiting the use of buildings and premises and the heights and size of buildings; providing for yards, courts or other open spaces; establishing districts for the said purposes; defining offenses; prescribing penalties and repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict therewith.” 

What does it all mean?

Zoning allows lots to be broken by lot size and restricts use. For example, single-family zones are divided by lot size and can only contain one dwelling unit. This means that for SF 9600 zones (the largest single-family zones) only one dwelling unit can occupy each 9,600-plus square foot lot. For such zones, a maximum of 35 percent of the land can contain a single-family housing structure. Single-family zones shrink all the way to “Residential Small Lot (RSL),” where homes are built on a minimum lot size of 2,500 feet and can cover the whole lot as long as they meet the minimum front/rear yard requirements of 30 feet. 

Despite the seemingly limited laws, Seattle is still in the top ten most densely populated cities in the U.S. (7,963 people per square mile) at number 10 and is set to move past Los Angeles (number nine) within five years. In 2010, 48 percent of units were listed as owner-occupied and just over 50 percent of Seattle housing units were rented space. Now, 49 percent of the city is zoned single-family—that’s a whopping 65 percent of the 76 percent of possible acreage zoned exclusively for residential use.

In short, the Seattle housing market is competitive and those who can’t afford to own often get stuck in difficult housing situations. Take the story of Becky for example. Becky moved with her daughter to Seattle for a great job. She moved into her parents’ basement while she looked for housing in an area with good schools. No luck. Becky found a way to make the basement space her own, but her story is far too familiar to those who have struggled to find a home in Seattle. (For more stories like Becky’s, check out Sightline’s Seattle Neighbors project!) 

Relatedly, a 2017 poll by King 5 indicated that 48 percent of Seattleites are in support of more inclusive zoning and only 29 percent directly oppose changes to single-family zones, with the remaining 22 percent feeling ‘unsure’ about their positions. 

Seattle’s Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA)

To help alleviate some of these housing pressures, Mayor Ed Murray spearheaded the 2015 Housing Affordability and Living Livability Agenda (HALA). HALA aimed to address many of the issues discussed in this post, including homelessness, exclusionary zoning, and overpriced housing. 

HALA was called a “headline-grabbing proposition.” Advocates for HALA commend Mayor Murray for his dedication to sustainability, the bold vision of his plan, and the emphasis on addressing “racial and class exclusion.” Opponents, on the other hand, criticize the plan for being “too little, too late” and say it inadvertently inflates single-family housing costs by imposing costs on small-scale developers that adversely impact their project budgets.  

Since 2015, the City of Seattle attributes the creation of over 1,500 affordable housing units to HALA. The Seattle Housing Levy has been doubled and the Multifamily Tax Exemption program expanded to include almost twice as much area. In three different Seattle neighborhoods, namely the University District, downtown, and South Lake Union, Mandatory Housing Affordability will theoretically keep rents down in new developments, though it is too early to provide a definitive answer. Looking forward, the 2017 and 2019 city council races and this year’s mayoral race, appearing on almost every ballot, will dictate the fate of HALA and housing affordability in Seattle.

One thing HALA will not focus on, however, is exclusionary zoning. Shortly after HALA was announced, Mayor Murray stated “I will no longer pursue changes that could allow more types of housing in 94 percent of single-family zones. Instead, we will refocus the discussion on designing denser Urban Centers, Urban Villages, and along transit corridors that include more affordable housing.” He cites this framework shift to ‘distraction’ caused by the media immediately following HALA’s release. He goes on to reiterate his focus on density in all neighborhoods, but if no zoning changes will occur, it seems unlikely to have the ramifications the city of Seattle wants and desperately needs. 

How Do Other Cities Do It?

Seattle attempted to solve affordability issues through HALA, but how do other cities manage some of the same issues? We’ve seen how housing restrictions can trap cities in their own systemic failures and we’ve seen cascading financial impacts. Studies in New York, San Francisco, and San Jose have shown that the act of lowering regulations in just three cities could raise the overall US GDP by 9.5 percent.

Our Cascadian neighbors in Portland have just three percent of land zoned as single-family. Unfortunately, their 2016 State of Housing report showed decreasing affordability, though this may be impacted by a myriad of variables. However, their commitment to housing affordability overall is clear and could set an example for Seattle, where a state of emergency was declared for the homelessness crisis in 2015. 

Seattle has a housing crisis and booming population growth is contributing to the problem. A recent study by the US Census Bureau estimated that, on average, 1,000 new people move to Seattle each week. With such rapid growth, is it possible for Seattle to follow the likes of New York, San Francisco, or San Jose? According to a 2017 press release by the US Census Bureau, Seattle was ranked the fifth largest growing city, while New York came in fourth. Perhaps Seattle can learn from other fast-growing cities about the best way to deal with housing crises. 

Interested in this complex topic? At this year’s Built Green Conference, we are hosting a panel called From Exclusionary to Inclusionary: How Can We Make Our Region Inclusive, Resilient, and Vibrant? featuring Alan Durning of Sightline Institute, candidates for Seattle public office, and experts on environmental justice and community participation. Register for the conference today—ticket prices increase September 1!

This week, Shannon talks to Leah Missik, Built Green Program Manager, about our exciting upcoming Built Green Conference. There's something for everybody!

Register now—the price goes up Sept. 1!

Downtown Seattle, South Lake Union, Interstate 5, and Capitol Hill at night (Wikimedia Commons Photo/Dllu)

By Zoe Ludwig, Built Green Intern | This is part one in a three-part series.

Back in the day, the West Coast was expansive, idyllic—the land of the American Dream. The privileged few would leave everything they had, come to large open pastures, and build homes for their families for generations to come. But even then, we struggled with zoning, it just had a different name. A history of discriminatory practices negatively impacted marginalized communities for centuries. Believe it or not, it existed here at home: think along the lines of Native Americans pushed out of their homes or non-white communities exiled to less favorable parts. Of course, nowadays, building in the west looks a lot different, as does the American Dream. Every beam laid is permitted; every building has its place; and, ideally, nothing is built out of place. The notion of zoning, however, while transformed, has stuck around.

Los Angeles was the first to adopt a policy of exclusionary zoning in 1908, but it wasn’t until 1922 that the Federal Government passed the Standard State Zoning Enabling Act. This act granted states the power to zone cities however they deemed fit and officially legalized exclusionary zoning. While there are many forms of exclusionary zoning, put most simply it prohibits development of anything besides single-family homes on large lots in specific geographical strata (neighborhood, town, city, etc.).

The issue with exclusionary zoning is in the name—it’s exclusive. Exclusive housing laws push lower-income families out of neighborhoods, limiting access to schools, trails, parks, and even grocery stores. Public education nationwide depends on property tax to fund neighborhood schools. Bigger homes = higher property taxes = better schools. The same goes for many other ‘luxury’ community amenities like public parks and trails. Maintenance and improvement projects are paid for by taxpayers and, again, those who pay more taxes see greater benefit. (Thankfully, Seattle recognizes the importance of green space and works hard to put good parks in all of its neighborhoods though there is still room for improvement.)

The other issue with exclusionary zoning is that it decreases affordability. If only 50 percent of the city is available to those who can’t afford to buy, then the demand for housing outweighs the supply of housing, and those who can’t afford rent or a mortgage get forced out. Decreasing affordability and increasing disparities have documented impacts:

• The property-tax/education paradigm manifests itself in test scores. One author, looking at "low-scoring" schools and "high-scoring schools, found that homes in the "high-scoring" regions cost, on average, $11,000 more a year than homes in the "low-scoring" regions. This is not only unfair to kids in the low-earning, low-scoring districts, but it is unfair to the rest of the community, which loses the incredible potential from many students who aren’t granted the same resources.
• Another study found that just a $100 increase in median rent causes a 15 percent increase in homelessness for adults already living in poverty. With the lack of affordable rent options here in Seattle, this statistic is yet another reason to examine our current zoning and its impacts.

While it is possible to prove with significance the economic disparity caused by zoning, studies on race are not as straightforward. Bruce Harrell, the only black Seattle City Council Member, put it eloquently when he said, “housing policies are largely governed by socioeconomic patterns. Yes, we can agree there’s a huge overlap between poverty and communities of color. But to suggest that… there’s a conscious attempt to exclude in terms of zoning decisions based on race—that almost distracts from the issue.”  It is still important to note, however, that while race might not alone dictate housing disparity, the overlap of poverty and communities of color, combined with various systematic failures and the continuing ramification of past housing injustices, create an undeniably unsustainable system in which the rich and the white frequently end up on top. If we focus zoning reform on creating affordable living options for all, we will make progress in addressing disparities and affordability.

Interested in this complex topic? At this year’s Built Green Conference, we are hosting a panel called From Exclusionary to Inclusionary: How Can We Make Our Region Inclusive, Resilient, and Vibrant? featuring Alan Durning of Sightline Institute, candidates for Seattle public office, and experts on environmental justice and community participation. Register for the conference today—ticket prices increase September 1!

This week, Shannon and Brad Faber of Ferguson are at the MBA Golf Tournament, talking about the benefits of sponsorship.

Sponsorship opportunities

By Brenda Nunes, Nunes Group Realty

Q: I hear more and more about green homes and communities. Can you tell me why I should be interested?

A: Buying a house is the largest purchase most people ever make and homebuyers are looking for long-term value with their home. With the cost-saving combination of high energy and water efficiency, reduced waste, and a healthier indoor environment, green building offers a smart investment in the future. I like to use the term "future proofing."

Years ago, building green may have meant, to many people, only adding energy efficient appliances to a home. But today, new technologies and methods raise green building to new standards.

Today's buyer is looking for a quality home that will last a long time, protect the health of their families, enhance comfort and reduce the impact on our environment. Homebuyers want a smart-technology home with highly efficient energy and water systems, improved air quality, and to spend less time and money on maintenance and upkeep.

Green building certification programs help buyers identify homes that have been built to exceed code and mitigate their impact on the environment. Here in Washington, Built Green is a holistic, tiered certification that distinguishes green homes.

In Seattle, 58 percent of new single-family homes were certified Built Green in 2016. In total, more than 17,000 single-family homes, multifamily homes, remodels, and communities have been certified Built Green. Today, more builders are offering green homes with cost-efficient features and elements that enhance quality of life, and homebuyers recognize the benefit of these homes.

Built Green is a green home certification program of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. It was founded in 1999 in partnership with King County, Snohomish County, and other agencies in Washington state. The program's mission is "to serve as the driving force for environmentally sound design, construction and development practices in Washington's cities and communities."

Built Green members include architects, builders, developers, subcontractors, suppliers, lenders, and real estate agents working together to improve quality of life in King and Snohomish counties.

Built Green is a holistic certification program. In other words, homes certified as Built Green must meet standards in many environmental categories: site and water, energy efficiency, health and indoor air quality, and materials efficiency. All homes are verified by a third party and are rated 3-, 4-, 5- or Emerald Star. As such, Built Green helps buyers and renters find quality homes that offer the ability to guard the health of their families, as well as the environment.

The program also offers a structure for builders to certify their good work and get incentives for it. Many local municipalities and utilities use Built Green® certification as a basis for awarding builders with expedited permits, rebates, or greater density, knowing that these homes will provide community and environmental benefits beyond homes that are simply built to meet code.

Sustainable communities extend green building practices beyond the individual home to a neighborhood or community level and provide long-term value, helping residents combine and manage resources so that they can live well now and into the future.

Built Green offers a community certification, which indicates that homes in a community are interconnected through shared resources and also demonstrate high levels of stormwater management, water protection, and sustainable land use. The other certification types offered by Built Green are single-family/townhome, multifamily, remodel, and refit.

Brenda Nunes of Nunes Group Realty is a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. HomeWork is the group's weekly column. If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question you'd like answered by one of the MBA's more than 2,800 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

Is 2017 leaving you black and blue? You're in luck!

And slightly ahead of the curve, too. It so happens that black (in many iterations) and blue are the colors predicted to trend in 2018, according to various paint entities as part of the companies' prestigious color of the year predictions.

Each year, beginning in fall, several paint companies, fashion entities, and design websites begin to predict what they see as the colors that will dominate the various landscapes of the next year. Last year, it was Pantone 15-0343, a lovely yellow-green shade that "evokes the first days of spring." The Pantone Color Institute, which calls itself the "global color authority," may have the final say when all things are said and done, but that isn't stopping companies like PPG Paints, Olympic Paint, Glidden, and Behr from throwing in their hues of choice.

Specifically, PPG Paints has backed their Black Flame concoction, a lighter black with indigo tones launched back in June. Black Flame was the unanimous choice to become the world's "new neutral" by 20 leading color experts around the globe (think secret underground meetings with weird chants and robes).

While the chants and robes may not actually exist, the opinions of opinion makers certainly do. A company's paint color can mean big business, which is a large part of why so many entities throw their choices into the ring and announcements are highly anticipated. At the same time PPG was showing off Black Flame (it's like Zoolander's Blue Steel but EVEN MORE INTOXICATING), Olympic Paint revealed Black Magic, an "often misunderstood neutral" primed to blot out the easy-going grays and pinks of 2017.

Says Dee Schlotter, senior color marketing manager, Olympic Paint: "In past years, consumers have gravitated toward open, airy spaces that are thought to leave room for exposure. However, in the current day, consumers often feel uneasy, restless, or like their privacy is being invaded, so they crave deep, comforting colors that offer a welcomed escape from the chaos of daily life. Olympic paint's Black Magic perfectly satisfies consumers' desire for privacy."

Schlotter continues, "Black Magic can easily make a statement in any home on a front door, window trim, kitchen cabinets, exposed shelving, or even sliding barn doors. It works especially beautifully in a dining room with a bold light fixture."

Not to be outdone, Glidden put its own spin on black, announcing their Deep Onyx as their color of the year. Why? According to Color Marketing Manager Misty Yeomans, "Just like a little black dress, Deep Onyx is a classic, timeless staple." The hue is meant to give off a "less is more" attitude that reflects a minimalist style inside the homes of those in the know.

Stepping out of the shadows is Behr, who boldly announced their first-ever color of the year as In the Moment, a blue-green blend that "Speaks to our society's desire to disconnect and be present," according to Erika Woelfel, vice president of color and creative services at Behr. Grand Central Station commuters on August 9 were certainly living In the Moment, as they were witness to Behr's blue via a virtual reality color video and chats with the company's color experts as they strolled through different rooms of a makeshift home.

While we could talk about trends until we're blue in the face, we'll await the final verdict on which colors clients will consume in 2018.

One thing does still plague the mind, however: How does one become a color expert, exactly?

Both modern and traditional trends in home design are mixing metal finishes for a more eclectic and "collected over time" look. Gone are the days of having to match your cabinet hardware to your faucet. No longer must you match your door hardware to your light fixtures. Mixing metals can help your space to look and feel so "you" that it appears to have been there the whole time. Be bold: mix it up! Here's the inside scoop on how to do it successfully.

Get more tips from CRD Design Build's Designers

By Leah Missik, Built Green Program Manager

One of the most commonly asked questions we get from builders and home buyers is what third-party verification is and why it is required by Built Green for certification. Similarly, when I’m asked about my work of certifying green homes, people wonder how many times I visit a certain project before I certify it. I explain that, in fact, I’m not usually the person out in the field—it's one of the third-party verifiers that Built Green has approved. Not only is it physically impossible for me to inspect over a thousand projects multiple times in a year, but Built Green’s third-party verifiers also play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity and rigor of the program; they bring a lot of green building expertise to the table. As the Built Green Certification Process Diagram shows, verifiers are involved throughout construction and provide a lot of assistance to builders. Let’s explore how third-party verification came about and why it is so important and beneficial.

How did third-party verification come about?

Today, Built Green certifies projects at the levels of 3-Star, 4-Star, 5-Star, and Emerald Star. What happened to 1- and 2-Star? When the program first launched in 1999, those two levels, along with 3-Star were available. Once the program started growing and builders got on board, 4- and 5-Star levels were developed, and with them, third-party verification. The lower star-levels allowed builders to fill out a checklist, sign it, and thus obtain certification. New, higher star levels demanded more rigor, especially since Built Green was now being considered as a basis for green building incentives. Therefore, in order to obtain 4-Star or higher on a project, a builder had to work with an approved third-party verifier who would do a home energy model as well, as ensure items claimed on the checklist were done correctly and that this could be demonstrated to Built Green.

Now, third-party verification is required for all projects at all star-levels. In October 2013, the Built Green Executive Committee decided it was time to introduce this requirement; it came into effect on March 1, 2014. This had been a goal of the program for some time, as it would ensure program integrity and greater brand credibility.

But why does third-party verification matter for integrity and credibility?

As mentioned earlier, many municipalities and utilities offer incentives for Built Green projects, including expedited permitting, density bonuses, and cash rebates. In order to grant these rewards, officials need more assurance than someone’s word. That’s one important role that third-party verifiers play: they ensure that a project has done what has been claimed on the checklist and they provide detailed, on-the-ground scrutiny before the final Built Green certification packet review. When a project is certified, that means it has been evaluated by two different entities, the verifier and Built Green, and both have affirmed that the project meets a certain level of green rigor.

In addition to providing an independent set of eyes on the project, third-party verifiers also bring a lot of expertise to the project. Built Green projects require energy models demonstrating performance above code and not just anyone has the expertise to do this. Verifiers help by performing energy models and can often provide builders who are newer to the program with guidance on how to meet the program requirements. Since they are more familiar with each individual project, they are able to provide tailored advice and recommendations.

We’ve seen the results of this quality assurance in our research. In a soon-to-be-published post-occupancy study, we found that Built Green homes exhibited less variability in total electricity usage when compared with non-certified homes. In other words, there were fewer outlier homes that used far more electricity than average. Further, Built Green 4- and 5-Star homes exhibited even less variability than 3-Star homes did. Most of the homes that were included in this study were third-party verified, but some 3-Star homes were certified before the verification requirement was in place. That 4- and 5-Star homes were more consistent in their efficient performance demonstrates the quality control that third-party verification provides.

So, who is a third-party verifier and how does Built Green approve them?

Third-party verifiers must have obtained a number of green building-related certifications and acquired related education in order to be approved by Built Green. Additionally, they must interview with the program. Anyone who is qualified may apply and the application details the requirements. In addition, Built Green third-party verifiers must sign onto a Code of Ethics which states that verifiers may not provide verification services for projects in which they have a financial interest (for example, a verifier could not verify a project being built by their own business), that they will be clear about their services and costs, and that they will conduct their business in a way that reflects well on them and on the Built Green program.

Currently, Built Green has thirteen approved third-party verifiers. Some verifiers specialize in certain building types and others in a particular facet of green building, but they all are able to provide verification services for projects aiming for Built Green certification. Built Green does not set pricing for their services, which are often context-dependent, so it is a free market.

Third-party verification is now an integral part of the Built Green program, providing quality assurance, assuring program integrity, and lending brand integrity. It allows Built Green to be a basis for incentives that reward green builders. Verifiers also help promote and represent the Built Green program through their services—their collaboration really is of a benefit to the program and for increasing green building in the region. Their expertise helps their clients and their enthusiasm for green building helps advance Built Green and our region!