NAHB – August 2020
Why did you decide to make sustainability and high-performance homes part of the foundation of your company, Dwell Development?
When I left my family-run design/build firm back in 2005, I didn’t want to be a small fish in a big pond of Seattle developers. To help my company stand out, in 2002 I became involved with Built Green, a local sustainable building certification program promoted by the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties.
I felt that this sustainable approach to building along with the benefits of third-party verification of what was behind the walls was a legitimate, smart move. It also dramatically reduced the impact on the environment and resources, and promoted best building practices from a holistic approach. I was the first and only builder in Seattle committed to doing every one of our Dwell homes at the Built Green 5 Star level, which is a home built to be around 50% more efficient than the current energy code. From the early 2000s to now, building to various third-party certification programs has really helped Dwell differentiate itself from other builders.