Seattle has developed one of the strongest green building programs in the nation, according to a new study that tracks the growth of the industry in the city over the past five years.

The five-year report by the City of Seattle's Sustainable Building Program (available at right) found that the City has helped spur growth in the green building industry through policies aimed at private developers and by requiring environmentally friendly designs for projects constructed during the largest municipal building boom since the Seattle fire of 1888.

"We have seen tremendous growth and change in the green building industry since Seattle first adopted the policy in 2000," said Mayor Greg Nickels. "Now because of our work with the construction community, Seattle has become one of the strongest markets in the country for green buildings and expertise."

Highlights
Highlights of Seattle’s rapid progress include:

• Seattle is the number one city in the nation for LEED™* building projects and LEED™ proficiency, with 808 accredited professionals and 58 registered and certified projects.
• By 2013 the City of Seattle is expected to be one of the largest single owners of LEED™ facilities in the world. The City currently has 38 capital projects--either completed, under construction, or planned--that are targeted for LEED™.
• The number of Built Green™*-certified homes in Seattle has increased seven-fold since 2003.

Market expansion in green building has occurred in the commercial/institutional market. Thirteen percent of all LEED™-registered commercial/institutional projects are in the Pacific Northwest and over 2% of all LEED™ projects, including those owned by the City and all others, are in Seattle. These local buildings represent 7.9 million square feet, $1.8 billion, and a substantial contribution to Seattle’s tax base. The City has provided support to green buildings with incentives for energy conservation, natural drainage/water conservation, and design and consulting fees for LEED™ projects.

In 2003 less than 1% of the nearly 2,500 Built Green™-certified homes in King and Snohomish counties were located in Seattle. To stimulate growth in green home development the City launched a design competition, a multifamily incentive program, and an education/outreach program to raise awareness with local builders. By August 2005 the number of Built Green™-certified projects in Seattle had jumped from 12 to 84, which represents 342 total green housing units for Seattle residents. Built Green™ homes now represent 17% of all new residential construction in King and Snohomish counties.

Next Steps
Annual growth in construction through 2009 is expected to exceed 18 million square feet, according to Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan. These construction activities and building operations will represent a significant portion of Seattle’s resource use. They are an opportunity to increase energy and water conservation, recycling and reuse, contributing to the Mayor’s climate change and recycling initiatives.

To continue the substantial green building market growth, the City will be studying how investments in green building contribute to a vibrant local economy, including jobs, business, and tax revenues.

One of the Mayor’s priorities is to accelerate environmentally sustainable design and construction practices in the private sector. Strategies being considered to accomplish this goal include: creating a sustainable development resource center; implementing development incentives/codes that encourage green building; developing strategies to increase the quality of services to customers; and providing incentives for reducing stormwater runoff, including green roofs.

* LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green building rating tool developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), of which the City of Seattle is a member. City staff have served on the USGBC national and local board of directors and committees. For more on LEED™, visit www.usgbc.org.

** Built Green™ is a residential program developed by the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (with King County, Snohomish County, and the City of Seattle). For more on Built Green™, visit www.builtgreen.net.