Built Green Canada - How Built Green Works

How the Built Green™ Program Works

Members and home buyers have the flexibility of choosing their level of participation, thereby offering broader appeal. Bronze represents the minimum of achievement level, Silver is the next level, and Gold is the thrid level of recognition. As of January 1, 2008 the Platinum level is the highest level of achievement in the Built Green program.

The Built Green™ Checklist (available from our front page) provides the foundation of the program's four achievement levels criteria. This includes:

Rating and labeling the home through Natural Resources Canada’s EnerGuide for New Houses initiative; the mandatory energy efficiency component of the Built Green™ Checklist. EnerGuide for New Houses is delivered in Alberta by EnerVision (a not-for-profit organization owned by the CHBA-Alberta) and by the CHBA-BC in British Columbia.
A menu offering a wide variety of options addressing a range of "green" items from which the builder selects a minimum number to meet a chosen achievement level. Approved Supplier/Manufacturer member products that correspond to the Built Green™ Checklist are listed in our product catalogue.

Built Green Canada Members have the opportunity to submit requests for changes (additions, deletions, point value, etc.) to the Built Green™ Checklist using the Checklist Change Request Form. The Checklist and the Checklist change requests are reviewed annually. The revised checklist is effective January 1 of each year.

The Built Green™ Certified Builder enrolls the new home on behalf of the purchaser/owner. (Or in the name of the builder in the case of a spec or show home.) Each home enrollment must include 1) the completed Home Enrollment Form, 2) the completed Checklist and 3) both HOT2000 "before" (Plan) and "after" (New) files.

To verify the energy efficiency, the builder schedules a blower door test/inspection for every home, conducted only by a trained and licensed third-party consultant (a Certified Energy Advisor) just prior to possession. A blower door test takes about an hour to complete. Work in the home can continue while the test is underway as long as all the windows and doors are closed. The builder is responsible for ensuring the house meets the minimum requirements.

Upon completion of construction and a satisfactory blower door test/inspection, the builder will receive an EnerGuide for New Houses rating label and report together with an official Built Green™ seal for the new home. The EnerGuide label and Built Green™ seal are affixed to the furnace in the new home to provide assurance of its Built Green™ status to the new as well as future owners.

To confirm selected checklist items are being included in the homes, 5% of enrolled homes will be audited at random during different phases of construction. The audit can consist of a consultant visiting the home to confirm the Checklist items or the builder may be requested to submit documentation and/or certificates as outlined on the Checklist.

Only those homes registered in the program that successfully achieve the program criteria may receive the Built Green™ designation. Look for the Built Green™ seal to identify a Built Green™ home.