Join the City of Seattle's Sustainable (Green) Building Program in celebrating five years of green accomplishments.  In our 5-Year Report: "Building a Better City" you will learn about the tremendous growth in the green building industry and Seattle's noteworthy sustainability achievements between 2000-2005.

NEW! Eco-Charrette Report for Neighborhood Fire Station Projects

Click to download the Fire Stations EcoCharrette Report. Seattle neighborhood fire stations serve a critical role in localized emergency response, binding neighborhoods together and reflecting the local culture. With the Mayor’s environmental priorities and Seattle’s commitment to LEED certification, green building is an important criterion for the fire station projects. This report together with technical briefs on Water Harvesting and Health & Wellness summarizes the results of a collaboration throughout 2006 between City Green Building and Seattle’s Fleets and Facilities Department (FFD) that focused on sustainable design for the neighborhood fire station program.

Strategic Plans

• Northwest Sustainable Building Action Plan - 1999
• Seattle Comprehensive Plan 2004-2024:  "Towards a Sustainable Seattle"

Building Research Reports

• Charting Common Ground for Salmon and Buildings -
  December 2003
• Costing Green: A Comprehensive Cost Database and Budgeting Methodology - July 2004. Analysis of relative costs of various building types (LEED and non-LEED) which concludes that comparing the average cost per square foot of one set of buildings to another does not provide meaningful data to assess any potential cost impacts for incorporating LEED and sustainable design.
• The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings - October 2003.  Analysis of both first costs and 20-year operational costs and savings of 30 completed LEED projects.
• Green Value: Green Buildings, Growing Assets - 2005.  Study of 11 green buildings in the U.S. and Canada which found that--in addition to the payback efficiency measures provide over time--a "green" designation can also increase a building's market value.
• LEED-Certified Buildings in Seattle: Analysis and Projections - January 2006
• LEED Performance & Evaluation Plan: Seattle Justice Center & City Hall - December 2003.  Results of post-occupancy evaluation will be posted on this site when they become available.
• LEED Cost/Benefit Analysis of McCaw Performance Hall and Seattle Justice Center - April 2003.  Analysis of anticipated cost/benefit of two City facilities slated for LEED Silver certification. While preliminary in nature, the conclusion was that LEED is a good investment, particulary in owner-occupied office-type environments.  For a one-page overview of the report, read the Summary.
• National Review of Green Schools:  Costs, Benefits and Implications for Massachusetts" - December 2005. By Greg Kats for Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.

Market Research Reports

• Green Building Pre- and Post- Campaign Testing - 2005.  Part of Build Green NW Marketing Campaign.
• High Performance Building Delivers Results - May 2001.  Final report from Seattle City Light's Sustainable Demand Project.