Region’s Most Prominent Green Building Event Will Focus on the Economic Benefits of Green Building Practices and Advances in Green Design SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In its ninth year, the Built Green Conference, the Pacific Northwest’s main green building event attended by thousands in the industry, will be held March 12 at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Wash. The event is hosted by Built Green, an environmentally-friendly, non-profit, residential building program of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, which has certified over 14,500 homes since 1999. Attendees will gain in-depth knowledge of the value that green building certification can add to residential properties, while highlighting the rapidly changing nature of green design as architects and builders push technology and innovation further. This year the conference’s trade floor will also be open to the public. Educational sessions held throughout the day will provide valuable information to builders and designers who need to understand the mindset of homebuyers who are showing a preference for green-certified homes. In Seattle in 2008, Built Green Certified townhomes appreciated by 8 percent while the uncertified homes depreciated by 4 percent. Similarly, sales of Built Green certified homes in east King County rose from 9 to 23 percent since 2005. This year’s conference will feature Professor David Orr as the keynote speaker. Mr. Orr is the Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies at Oberlin College and is the author of “Design on the Edge: The Making of a High Performance Building.” Mr. Orr led the effort to design and build a $7.2 million Environmental Studies Center at Oberlin, a building described by The New York Times as one of 30 “Milestone” buildings of the 20th century. Mr. Orr brings into focus the evolving nature of green design and the increasingly important role building design plays in protecting and enhancing the natural world. For designers, builders and the ecologically minded, Mr. Orr’s presentation will serve as an anchor for a conference that will focus on both the urgency of environmental issues associated with building, from climate change to urban sprawl, and the opportunities that smart environmental design presents as designers look to the future. According to Aaron Adelstein, executive director of the Built Green Program of King and Snohomish Counties, “With several educational sessions addressing topics such as the market forces driving up the value of green-certified property, the state of lending, and remodeling for energy efficiency, builders will learn why applying green building practices and achieving green building certification can make the difference when it comes to a residential project’s success during these tough economic times.” For prospective home buyers, the trade floor provides an opportunity to learn about what makes a home truly green and to talk to builders suppliers of green building products and services in order to make an informed decision about purchasing a truly green home. At the same time, homeowners who are considering a remodel will get the information they need to decrease their home’s existing environmental footprint while creating a more efficient, livable space. Consumers will have the chance to learn how a green certified home can increase their property value while providing a safer, more comfortable residence.
