Council News Release

GODDEN CALLS ON CITY TO JOIN EPA’S ENERGY STAR PROGRAM
EPA experts can spot potential energy-saving actions for City Hall

SEATTLE – In a letter addressed to the Mayor, Seattle City Councilmembers Jean Godden and Tom Rasmussen urged the City to join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Buildings Partnership Program to identify ways in which City Hall can reduce energy consumption.

“We want City Hall as efficient as possible. That’s why I’m advocating an Energy Star partnership,” said Councilmember Jean Godden, chair of the Council’s committee on energy and the environment. “I’m confident this program will be an excellent complement to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system certification process that’s now underway because, after all, the greenest kilowatt is the one that isn’t used.”

"We need to find out what was promised, and what we’re getting," added Councilman Tom Rasmussen.

The EPA’s Energy Star Buildings Partnership Program is a voluntary government-backed program that helps protect the environment through energy efficiency. It claims results are adding up, with energy savings enough to “power 24 million homes and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 20 million cars - all while saving $10 billion in 2004 alone.”

The Energy Star program focuses on conservation practices and energy efficient products and considers a number of factors in determining whether a building is optimally conserving energy resources. Unlike LEED, which places a focus on sustainable building design, Energy Star focuses on energy conservation.

“Let’s draw from the best of all possibilities, marrying the principles of sustainability and energy conservation,” said Godden. “Once the energy and utility audits are completed, if we find more energy savings can be made, we’ll take whatever steps are necessary to ensure City Hall is performing as expected.”

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City Council