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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Seattle One of Strongest Green Building Markets in Nation
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
11/15/2005 10:00:00 AM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
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Seattle One of Strongest Green Building Markets in Nation
Report details five years of progress building a sustainable city
SEATTLE — 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 report 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. The report, “Building a Better City,” is
available online at www.seattle.gov/dpd/sustainability
“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 of Seattle's rapid progress include:
- Seattle has 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 -- targeted
for LEED.
- The number of Built Green-certified homes in Seattle has increased sevenfold
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 more than 2 percent of all LEED projects,
including those owned by the city and all others, are in Seattle. These local
buildings represent almost eight 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 percent 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 of Seattle 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, representing 342 total green
housing units for Seattle residents. Built Green homes now represent 17 percent
of all new residential construction in King and Snohomish counties.
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 provide an opportunity to increase energy
and water conservation, recycling and reuse, contributing to Mayor Nickels’ climate
change and recycling initiatives.
To continue the substantial green building market growth, the city will study
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.
To accomplish this goal, strategies may 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.
A major example of new ways to support sustainability is Mayor Nickels’ new
zoning proposal for downtown, which includes LEED certification for new buildings
seeking additional development capacity.
Additional details on the program are also available online at www.seattle.gov/dpd/sustainability.
If you have questions about the five-year report, please contact Lucia Athens,
(206) 684-4643, lucia.athens@seattle.gov.
About LEED : Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED,
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.
About Built Green : 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.
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Office of the Mayor
Department of Planning & Development
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