Today we reached a new milestone in sustainable construction and environmental stewardship: the first 4 homes of Magnolia Village, Issaquah have been certified to the 4-star level of the local Built Green program! Built Green is a non-profit organization out of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. The program certifies homes up to a 5-star level based on the homes environmental impact; a lower environmental impact means a higher level of certification.
Magnolia Village is our first community to reach this level of certification. To succeed, the homes were subjected to a third party verification process including Energy Star verification, duct testing, and whole house blower door testing.
Some of the homes sustainable features include:
• Low flow plumbing fixtures and aerators
• Energy Star appliances, light fixtures, and compact fluorescent light bulbs
• High-efficiency furnaces and water heaters
• Low voc paints and adhesives
• Greenguard certified insulation
• Green Label Plus certified carpet
• Ceramic Tile entries, kitchens, and bathrooms
• Recycled content materials
Less maintenance due to durable materials and lower utility bills as a result of energy efficient construction lessen the financial burden on our families. As fossil fuels increase in price these steps toward energy efficiency will ensure the continued affordability of Habitat homes.
We want to thank everyone who contributed to our success and especially Diane Glen, verifier; Eric Sperline, duct testing; and Ed Brown, Habitat support. We do not want this achievement to become a one-hit wonder, but plan to maintain a standard for all newly constructed homes and continue to increase our sustainable building capacity. We will not step backward, but prove that affordable housing can be energy efficient and environmentally responsible!
No comments:
Post a Comment