• Retain 30% of trees on site or retain arborist to determine tree retention plan for site
• Install and maintain temporary erosion control devices that significantly reduce sediment discharge from the site beyond code requirements
• Install vegetated roof system (e.g. eco-roof) to reduce impervious surface on 25%+ of total roof surface
• Install a high albedo or light colored roof
• Landscape with plants appropriate for site topography and soil types, emphasizing use of plants with low watering requirements (drought tolerant)
• Provide water sub-metering for each unit
• Provide structured parking within the proposed building footprint at a 50% minimum or 100% with no surface parking
• Build within ¼ mile of a transit stop or Park and Ride
• Prepare an environmentally friendly operations, maintenance and landscape plans for common area facilities
• Install 60-minute timers or humidistat for bathroom and laundry room fans
• Provide electricity and/or natural gas direct metering for each unit
• Select Energy Star® heating / cooling equipment and appliances
• Install whole building recirculation water heating pump
• Maximize daylighting for all units through light-colored interior finishes and clerestory windows for natural lighting
• Halogen lighting substitited for incandescent downlights
• Install lighting dimmer, photo cells, timers, and/or motion detectors (interior) for high efficiency fixtures
• Install LED or Energy Star® compliant CFL bulbs or demonstrated energy equivalent in all units and common areas.
• Inside the building envelope use only low-VOC, low-toxic, water-based, solvent-free sealers, grouts, mortars, drywall mud, caulks, and adhesives for tiling, framing, Flooring, plumbing, HVAC, insulating and drywalling.
• Use pre-finished and ceramic tile floorin
• Install shelving, trim, moulding and cabinets with no added urea formaldehyde
• Install low pile or less allergen-attracting carpet and pad
• Use only low-VOC / low-toxic interior paints, primers, and finishes for large surface areas
• Recycling of cardboard, metal scraps, scrap wood, drywall, concrete, glass, and yard waste with a 90% minimum recycling rate.
• Install locally/regionally produced materials
• Use no endangered wood species
• Use dimensional lumber that is third-party certified sustainably harvested wood
• Use any amount of rapidly renewable flooring products made from plants harvested within a ten-year cycle or shorter (excluding carpet)
• Use drywall with a minimum of 90% recycled content gypsum or flue gas substitute for recycled gypsum
• Use regionally produced stone or brick
• Use recycled content lumber for decking (e.g., Trex)

Top 10 Reasons to Rent a Built Green Apartment

1. More Money In the Piggy Bank - A Built Green home typically saves money on operating costs because of more efficient energy use with such features as extra insulation, more efficient water heaters, lighting and appliances, and the use of natural daylighting techniques.
2. Less “New” Odors And Better Indoor Air - Using low-VOC and low-toxic interior paints and finishes can reduce toxins, thereby increasing indoor air quality in a home. Improving indoor air can be especially helpful for residents with sensitivities to allergens.
3. Saves Old-Growth Forests - Rapidly renewable materials such as bamboo, wheatgrass, cork and strawboard can be managed, grown and harvested in a sustainable way, and can effectively replace lumber from old-growth trees.
4. Happier Salmon - Water conservation can be achieved by planting drought tolerant plants, installing porous paving in driveways and walkways which allows rainwater to seep into the ground instead of running off, and enacting strict erosion control methods. All of these measures benefit salmon habitat.
5. More Couch Potato Time - Siding, decking and trim made from plastic lumber needs little or no painting. Durable materials such as stone, tile and slate last longer and therefore need replacement less often, which means fewer calls to maintenance.
6. Reduced Breezes Inside The Home - A home can be sealed against the outside elements with advanced caulking that goes beyond basic practice.
7. Healthier Yard With Homegrown Topsoil - During construction, the topsoil that is removed for grading can be stockpiled and, later, reapplied to the site for healthier soils.
8. Reduces Dependence on Fossil Fuels & Promotes Cleaner Air - By promoting the use of local materials, transportation and other costs can be reduced. By including pedestrian access and access to mass transit, projects can encourage the decreased use of automobiles, thereby reducing our foreign oil consumption and helping maintain cleaner air outdoors.
9. Less Trash - Built Green builders recycle as much as possible of scrap building materials such as lumber, wall board, concrete, cardboardand packaging. This helps reduce the amount of material going to our already overburdened landfills.
10. Promotes Businesses Committed To “Green” - The member companies of Built Green include lenders with special financing for Built Green homes; product manufacturers of durable, recycled content, non-toxic, energy-efficient and recyclable materials; service providers of utilities, engineering, consulting, real estate, interior design and home maintenance; builders who are willing to not only build green but to go to the extra effort and cost to have their projects certified as Built Green; architects who can design a green home with you every step of the way; and our local governments that are committed to protecting the quality of life for all of us!