Maximizing the reuse and recycling of building materials is important in reducing our carbon footprint—help Seattle continue this effort. DPD is seeking a paid intern to assist in improving the incentives for the deconstruction of buildings.
Seattle Buildings on Track for Major Energy
The Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) recently released the 2011/2012 Seattle Building Energy Benchmarking Analysis report and infographic on building energy use. This report and infographic reveals that Seattle building owners are poised to save tens of millions of dollars on energy annually by improving their building’s energy efficiency.
Priority Green Open House January 23
The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is hosting a Priority Green open house on January 23, 2014, 9:00 a.m. to noon. Come learn how Priority Green, DPD’s voluntary green building incentive program is changing in 2014, and how it complements conservation goals at Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities.
Green Code Provisions Open House
The City of Seattle and regional partners are identifying long-term green priorities and developing new code to address climate change.The public can comment on the draft code language at the Green Code Provisions Open House. Staff will be available to answer questions and give feedback to those who want to comment.
Energy Benchmarking & Reporting Program: Check Your Compliance
Even if you are already benchmarking, please review these tips if your building was subject to the October 3, 2011 reporting deadline (>50,000 single-family, non-residential buildings).
Seattle’s Green Building EVOLUTION
The City Green Building team takes an exciting new step in 2012. Beginning in January, part of the “green team” will join forces with the Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE). Staff focused on policy development will become part of OSE, and those focused on green codes and permitting will stay with the Department of Planning and Development (DPD), as part of the Operations Division. As this next step unfolds, both DPD and OSE will continue to develop and implement innovative approaches to building sustainable neighborhoods.
Seattle Green Building – Building a Better Seattle
Since 1999, the City Green Building team has been working to make sustainable development standard practice in the City of Seattle – first working as an interdepartmental team from across multiple City departments and then as a combined, yet still multidisciplinary, unit within DPD. City Green Building is now moving on to our next iteration to better align our work with that of our colleagues working on environmental policy, sustainable communities and development services.
LEED and the International Green Construction Code
Since 2000, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has developed an array of green building tools to provide building owners and operators with a framework to identify and implement practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. Participating buildings may achieve a level of LEED certification representing the amount of high performance measures successfully incorporated into the project. Since its inception, LEED has transformed the way built environments are designed, constructed, and operated, and has helped to make sustainable building practices more commonplace.
Seattle Raises the Bar to LEED Gold Plus
The Sustainable Buildings and Sites Policy for municipal facilities in Seattle, Resolution 31326, was signed by Mayor McGinn on October 12, following the unanimous vote of approval from City Council. The legislation increases standards for the design, construction and operation of City buildings and sites in order to support city-wide goals for sustainable development.
Get Your Green On!
Energy costs got you down? Come join the city’s Open House on October 17th and find out how to take a bite out of your energy bills.