Place a Home on the Tour

Current solicitations

We are currently seeking green homes for the Fall 2008 Build It Green Home Tour.

Location: Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties
Tour Date: Sunday, September 28, 2008

Please read on to learn about the application process, and responsibilities for homeowners and building professionals.

If you know of a green single-family or multi-family residential project in another Bay Area region that might be a good candidate for a future tour, please tell us about it! Please contact the Green Home Tour and be sure to include the following information:

  • Contact name
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • City and county where project resides

Application process

Qualifications:

  • Any type of residential housing (single family, multifamily, townhouse, condo, etc)
  • New construction or remodel
  • Includes an array of green building features
  • Owner/Developer or Contractor/Architect available on tour day to show home and answer questions
  • Willing to be featured in the Build It Green Home Tour Guidebook, Build It Green website, and print media with photos and descriptions of the home's green features
  • Application received by Build It Green by due date

Selection process:

  • Applications are reviewed and certain homes are pre-selected by the Green Home Tour Selection Committee
  • The Committee conducts site visits to pre-selected homes to review the site and meet with the homeowner or building professional
  • Final homes are selected for the tour. These homes will demonstrate a variety of green building features and techniques and, in general:
    • be part of a geographic cluster with other selected homes
    • offer ample parking
    • be able to accommodate numerous visitors at one time
  • Priority will be given to projects that:
    • Represent a comprehensive approach to green building
    • Follow sustainable design and construction principles with attention to resource conservation
    • Illustrate passive or active solar design and technology
    • Represent new or alternative building envelopes or appropriate uses of traditional building methods
    • Illustrate attention to indoor environmental quality
    • Are able to visually show many green features
  • Homeowners whose homes were featured on previous Build It Green Home Tours are welcome to submit applications. Please note that new projects highlighting similar green features will be given priority.

Responsibilities for owners/developers and contractors/architects

Pre-tour

  • Provide detailed product and process information about the home’s green features to help develop detailed case studies for Tour Guidebook
  • Attend an overview orientation on tour logistics and volunteer coordination one to two weeks before Tour Day

Tour day

  • Coordinate with on-site volunteers
  • Place outdoor directional signs in local vicinity
  • Post pre-printed signs that describe green features at appropriate places in home
  • Receive visitors from 10AM – 5PM
  • Answer questions about green building features and project experience
  • Remove signs and pack up home tour materials for pickup after the tour

Additional information

  • Homes are only open to the public during the official tour hours of 10AM – 5PM.
  • Visitors will be informed in advance that restroom facilities are not available at tour homes.
  • Participating homeowners will receive a free cleaning service and thank-you gifts.
  • The tour will be advertised several months in advance to maximize tour attendees.
  • Green Home Tour Guidebooks describing green home features and directions to homes will be available for purchase for $30 and distributed to registered tour participants.
  • Awards will be given for green building excellence in various categories. Local building professionals and city or county officials will be judging every home on tour day.

Future tours

We are always on the lookout for healthy, energy- and resource-efficient
homes to feature on Build It Green Home Tours! By placing your home on
a tour, you can help us reach these goals:

  • Enable homeowners and professionals to share their green building experiences with the community
  • Provide a venue for developers and building professionals to showcase their green projects
  • Educate tour attendees on the variety of green building products and practices being used locally
  • Showcase green building features that are both aesthetically pleasing AND environmentally friendly
  • Demonstrate that homes can incorporate green features on any budget

Contact

Questions? Please email GreenHomeTour@BuildItGreen.org or call (510) 845-0472 ext. 105 or ext. 119.