Green Homes Save Twice As Much Energy As Anticipated, According To Seattle Study
Utility data demonstrates that certified homes save enough energy to power an electric car for over a year
BELLEVUE, Wash., Oct. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A recent study comparing projected and actual electricity used in homes constructed to meet Washington's green certification standard – Built Green – revealed that certified homes used up to 40% less electricity than non-certified homes, in some cases making Built Green homes twice as efficient as predicted. The largest study of its kind to examine actual savings from green homebuilding certification programs, researchers analyzed data provided by electric utility Seattle City Light, comparing their modeled expectations with their actual electricity use from a year of occupancy. The study showed that certified homes saved homeowners more than $500 per year in electricity bills, and prevented more than a half ton of carbon emissions per home.
Built Green is the residential green building certification program of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. The Master Builders Association is the largest local homebuilding association in the country and it founded Built Green in 1999. Since then, Built Green has certified over 31,000 units.
"These electricity savings prove that builders, local governments and utilities can effectively partner to reduce carbon emissions in their communities," said Erich Armbruster, President of Ashworth Homes and 2018 Board President of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. "Residents are looking for green homes which are more comfortable and protect our Northwest environment; 52 percent of homes built in Seattle earned Built Green certification in 2016."
The study was led by Leah Missik, Built Green Program Manager, in conjunction with Seattle's Department of Construction and Inspections and Seattle City Light. Review of the study was conducted by the environmental consulting firm Rushing. The study is unique because researchers had access to large-scale residential electricity use data provided by the electric utility, Seattle City Light. Built Green obtained data for all single-family and townhomes built in Seattle in 2014 and analyzed 746 of the homes, comparing their modeled expectations with their actual electricity use.
"The yearly savings for the average Built Green home are equivalent to the electricity it would take to power a 12W LED light bulb continuously for more than 44 years, or offset the energy production of more than 13 solar panels," said Missik. "The savings can translate into greater purchasing power for buyers, allowing them to consider homes with a more expensive up-front cost, knowing they'll cost less to operate in the long run."
The results indicate the following savings in comparison to non-certified homes:
| Built Green Star-Level |
Required Modeled Savings over Code for Certification (in 2014) |
Actual Savings over Non-Certified Homes |
Annual kWh Savings over Non-Certified Homes |
| 3-Star |
None |
25% |
2,900 kWh |
| 4-Star |
15% |
33% |
3,806 kWh |
| 5-Star |
30% |
40% |
4,708 kWh |
About Built Green
Built Green is the green building certification program of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. The Master Builders Association is the largest local homebuilding association in the country with over 2,900 members. Built Green certifies homes as 3-Star, 4-Star, 5-Star, and Emerald Star through a checklist-based system that requires verification by an independent third party. Since its inception, Built Green has certified more than 31,000 housing units and 17,000 buildings. For more information about Built Green, visit builtgreen.net.
About Seattle's Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI)
SDCI is Seattle's permitting authority for construction proposals, and has contributed greatly to the support of Built Green through implementation of the Priority Green Expedited permitting program, giving Built Green projects that are 4-Star and above expedited permitting. For more information about SDCI's incentive programs, please visit seattle.gov/dpd.
About Seattle City Light
Seattle City Light provides electricity within Seattle and is dedicated to exceeding customers' expectations in producing and delivering environmentally responsible, safe, low-cost and reliable power. It provided the electricity use data for the study. For more information about Seattle City Light, please visit seattle.gov/light.
Media Contacts:
Suzette Riley
206-409-1960, [email protected]
SOURCE Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
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