Built Green as a Community-Oriented Solution

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!

Built Green Highlights

Site and Water

87% of stormwater mitigated onsite
33%+ permeable hardscaping
Drought-tolerant landscaping
Low-flow EPA WaterSense plumbing fixtures
Proximity to I-90 bike trail and transit stops

Energy Efficiency

69.6% improvement over 2015 WSEC
All electric
73.84 kW generated by solar PV over 16 units
Heat pump water heaters and ductless mini-split space conditioning
Full continuous rigid insulation beyond code beneath slab on grade
100% LED lighting
Energy Star appliances in all units

Health and Indoor Air Quality

Low VOC paints, adhesives, finishes
Greenguard Gold certified LVP flooring in units
Rainscreen installed under siding
Whole house timer and exhaust fans on humidistat
No gas-burning appliances inside house

Materials Efficiency

75% construction waste recycled and diverted from the landfill
Regionally made products used for doors, windows, cabinets, and millwork
Limited carpet using a CRI Green Label Plus certified wool carpet
Extensive engineered lumber
Recycled content included in fiber cement siding, carpet padding, roofing, insulation materials

Equity and Social Justice

62% of units are priced as workforce housing
Site selected, designed, and constructed to counter known disparities in homeownership and higher risk of displacement in the Central District and among black community members
Community partnerships and engagement to assure the development benefits historic residents and leaders of the Central District
Utilized an alternative development and ownership model (land trust) to create additional pathway to homeownership
40% Women and Minority Owned Business participation in contracts, Black contractors secured 20%, valued at $1 million, in subcontracts on the project
Built within a short walk of a transit stop, I-90 bike trail, and large city park
Landscaped with low maintenance outdoor spaces

Village Gardens by Homestead Community Land Trust and Edge Developers

village-gardens-delivering-4-star-climate-resilient-affordability

Built Green™

02/03/2020

Targa Homes: Shoreline 5-Star DADU

At first glance, this 5-star detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) built by Targa Homes in the North City neighborhood of Shoreline appears to be a typical new home. But the materials, assemblies, and techniques used in its construction are anything but.

The defining feature of the project is the extensive use of 100+ year old reclaimed lumber, deconstructed from local buildings by Sledge Seattle. While the use of reclaimed lumber is becoming more common in finish applications, this home was framed with +90% reclaimed fir. Reclaimed 1x5 material with characteristic nail holes and patina can also be seen on the front facade and interior accent walls.

Vital Stats	Section	Points
Location: Shoreline Star Level: 5-Star Checklist: Single-Family/Townhome Verifier: Evergreen Certified	Site and Water	119
	Energy Efficiency	149
	Health and Indoor Air Quality	150
	Material Efficiency	102
	Total Score	626

Despite its antique skeleton, this DADU was built to modern high-performance standards, resulting in energy consumption modeled 47% lower than an equivalent code-built home. Airtight construction was facilitated by AeroBarrier to passive house level (0.044 CFM/SF). This is of course paired with balanced ventilation by an ERV that brings in just the right amount of fresh, filtered air and exhausts stale air 24 hours a day. Other mechanicals in this all-electric home include a hybrid (heat pump) water heater, ductless heat pump, and electric radiant heat panels mounted on the bedroom ceilings.

To minimize site disturbance and accelerate the schedule, the home was built on a Diamond Pier foundation that was installed single-handedly in about 5 days. Diamond Piers are a type of pin pile that require no excavation and won’t impact underground hydrology.

Targa Homes: Shoreline 5-Star DADU finished exterior

Targa Homes: Shoreline 5-Star DADU exterior under construction

Since the majority of reclaimed wall studs are 2x4s, the wall assembly includes a 2” continuous layer of mineral wool on the exterior of the sheathing. The unvented roof also has a layer of graphite EPS (GPS) rigid foam above the sheathing. Targa Homes set a goal to minimize the amount of foam used in construction and the roof represents the vast majority of it.

Interior finishes were chosen with an emphasis on sustainability and indoor air quality. Comfortable cork flooring runs throughout the home and sustainably sourced Madrone butcher block counters were chosen for the kitchen. All paint and coatings are low- or zero-VOC.

During construction, Targa Homes meticulously source-separated waste, including thorough plastic film and styrofoam recycling.

The homeowners decided to move into the DADU and rent out their main house. So far, they love living in their Built Green® certified home.

Targa Homes: Shoreline 5-Star DADU living room

Targa Homes: Shoreline 5-Star DADU unfinished kitchen

Targa Homes: Shoreline 5-Star DADU finished kitchen