Seattle's green building work is linked with many of the City's other sustainability and conservation-related initiatives. The work has been built on a strong history of utility energy and water conservation programs, and now resides within the Office of Sustainability and Environment.
The following timeline highlights a broad range of milestones related to green building.
| YEAR | MILESTONE | |
| 1977 | Energy conservation programs launched by Seattle City Light (SCL) | |
| 1979 | Water conservation programs launched by Seattle Water Department (now Seattle Public Utilities or SPU) | |
| 1989 | City adopts Solid Waste Comprehensive Plan including demolition waste as a target | |
| 1992 | City adopts "Buy Recycled" ordinance | |
| City adopts Environmental Action Agenda with sustainability as one of 11 guiding principles | ||
| 1994 | Model conservation home created by City as a demonstration | |
| City adopts Comprehensive Plan for Growth Management, "Toward a Sustainable Seattle" | ||
| 1996 | Partnership for Resource Efficient Schools with City and Seattle Public Schools (SPU) | |
| 1997 | City establishes office currently known as Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) | |
| Sustainable Building Northwest Conference and Trade Show led by City (SPU) | ||
| 1998 | Sustainable Building Action Plan completed by City (led by SPU) | |
| SPU hires first full-time green building staff member | ||
| 1999 | Northwest Regional Sustainable Building Action Plan completed, led by City (SCL) | |
| City Environmental Management Program adopted w/green building as a topic (OSE) | ||
| City Green Building Team formed | ||
| 2000 | City adopts sustainable building policy for City owned facilities | |
| First City LEED project completed (Justice Center) | ||
| Citywide Sustainable Building website launched | ||
| Sustainable Building Advisor program launched led by City (SCL) w/ Seattle Central Community College | ||
| City adopts commitment for SCL to meet all future electric load growth with no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions | ||
| 2001 | SCL creates first permanent full-time green building staff member | |
| LEED Incentive Program launched by SCL and SPU | ||
| Sustainable Demand Project | ||
| 2002 | Built Green Multifamily Incentive program launched (SCL and SPU) | |
| 2003 | SCL achieved Low Impact Hydropower Institute certification of hydroelectric dams on the Skagit River, which allows LEED projects to take credit for 25% certified off-site renewable energy | |
| Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center certified LEED Gold | ||
| 2004 | Green Remodel program launched by City (SPU) | |
| Build Green NW program launched | ||
| Five City projects LEED Certified: Justice Center, Airport Way Center (Part 90/5), Fisher Pavilion, High Point Community Center, Central Library | ||
| Traugott Terrace LEED Certified (first Affordable Housing LEED project and a LEED Incentive recipient) | ||
| Built Green represents 12% of all home construction in King and Snohomish Counties | ||
| Seven solar electricity (photovoltaic) demonstration projects completed, including Merrill Hall | ||
| 2005 | Same day the Kyoto Protocol goes into effect for 141 nations across the globe, Mayor Greg Nickels issued the Kyoto Challenge to mayors across the United States | |
| Seattle is #1 in the U.S. for LEED projects and LEED-accredited professionals | ||
| Built Green Competition winners announced | ||
| Four Built Green Multifamily Incentive Projects certified (Croft Place, Denny Park Apartments, Katharine's Place, Pantages) | ||
| City Hall certified LEED Gold | ||
| Four LEED Incentive projects are certified (Nordheim Court, Merrill Hall, Alcyone, SBRI) | ||
| SPU Comprehensive Drainage Plan adopted with green building as component. | ||
| Built Green reaches 17% of all home construction in King and Snohomish Counties | ||
| 2006 | Mayor Nickels announces recommendations made by the Green Ribbon Commission on Climate Protection | |
| City Green Building Program reorganizes with centralized structure at Department of Planning & Development (DPD) | ||
| Cedar Watershed Environmental Learning Center and Yesler Community Center certified LEED Gold | ||
| Seattle Climate Partnership formed | ||
LEED Incentive Project, 9th & Stewart Life Sciences Building, certified LEED Core & Shell | ||
| 2008 | Mayor Nickels convenes Green Building Task Force | |
| Bicycle Master Plan released by SDOT | ||
| Northgate Civic Center & Montlake Community Center Expansion certified LEED Gold | ||
| Conservation Action Plan established by Seattle City Light | ||
| 2009 | Seattle's Green Building Capital Initiative Released- goals of improving energy efficiency by 20% in existing building stock and creating carbon neutral new construction. |
|
| Fire Station 10, Joint Training Center, and North Cascades Environmental Learning certified LEED Silver | ||
| Pedestrian Master Plan released by SDOT | ||
| Seattle Center Fifth Avenue North Garage certified LEED Gold | ||
| Green Q launched- expedited permitting for residential green projects | ||
| Living Building Pilot Program launched- facilitated permitting and design review departures for highly sustainable projects | ||
| Innovation Advisory Committee launched- early building code review for new technology or strategies striving to achieve high levels of energy performance | ||
| 2010 | SPU Operations Control Center - Awarded LEED for Commercial Interiors Gold Certification | |
| Building Energy Disclosure Ordinance - regular energy performance benchmarking, disclosure and reporting for commercial and multi-family buildings. | ||
| 2011 | Updated Sustainable Building and Sites Policy for the City of Seattle | |
| 2012 | Green building co-located within Office of Sustainability and Environment & DPD's Planning & Operations divisions. |
Return to Program History homepage.
Last Updated: Jan. 9, 2012
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