Buildings have a tremendous impact on environmental quality, resource use, and human health and productivity. Green building meets current building needs and reduces impacts on future generations by integrating building materials and methods that promote environmental quality, economic vitality, and social benefit through the design, construction and operation of our built environment.

The City has a robust Green Building program that facilitates green building policies and programs in both city operations and commercial practices. In 2012, part of the “green team” joined forces with the Office of Sustainability and Environment. Staff focused on policy development moved to 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.

Implementing the Sustainable Buildings and Sites policy, developing a resource conservation management plan, and the ongoing management of the energy benchmarking and Seattle 2030 District programs will be at the forefront in 2012. Within the Department of Planning and Development, Priority Green permitting incentives are well established and will continue to grow. As this next step unfolds, both DPD and OSE will continue to implement innovative approaches to building sustainable neighborhoods.

Green Building Green roofs, residential incentives and assistance, multi-family, commercial, green tenant improvement guides, historic preservation, building energy benchmarking and reporting, Green Building Capital Initiative and Task Force (historical information)	Lower Your Impact Green home remodel guides, Residential RainWise, residential deconstruction, energy upgrades for your home or business, green permitting incentives
Green Infrastructure Sewage overflow prevention, green stormwater & natural drainage, neighborhood planning, complete streets, district energy	Your Greener Government Municipal Buildings 2011-12 Energy Use Report, City LEED facilities, sustainable building and sites policy