Burned homes “Built Green”; similar program starting here
Elaine Thompson/ AP Photo.
The apparent arson of three multimillion-dollar model homes in a Seattle suburb today has made national news, but it has a local connection.
A sign ostensibly left by “eco-terrorists” ridicules claims that the homes - at least some of which were certified “ Built Green ” by the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties - were environmentally friendly . A local version of Built Green for single-family homes launches next month.
Local builders participated in a recent pilot version of Inland Northwest Built Green, which ranks structures on their energy efficiency, use of recycled and sustainable materials, indoor air quality and site preparation and lifecycle.
While the Snohomish County program focuses more on water conservation and runoff, they are “functionally equivalent,” said Paul Warfield, spokesman for the Spokane Home Builders Association and local program director. The burned homes’ features included pervious concrete that allows rainwater to permeate rather than run off, super-insulated walls and recycled carpet pads, according to The Associated Press.
“These were very ecologically conscious-designed homes that were destroyed,” Warfield said. “That’s not a very good message to send.”
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