City Green Building
Commercial Incentives & Assistance

You can save money, gain a marketing advantage, and make an investment in Seattle's future at the same time with financial incentives and assistance from the City of Seattle.  The programs detailed below are tailored to developers who incorporate green features into new commercial projects

Find out how you can:

   

Start Out Right With LEED (and more)

To maximize cost-effectiveness you'll want to incorporate sustainable building goals right from the start.

  • The Density Bonus Incentive - On April 12, 2006, Mayor Nickels signed new downtown zoning legislation updating rules for the central office core and adjoining areas, including Denny Triangle and a portion of Belltown. Changes in the new regulations were made to provide greater heights and/or greater floor area for commercial and residential buildings. To gain greater height or density, projects must achieve a LEED Silver rating or higher, as well as contribute to affordable housing and other public amenities. The zoning changes also offer greater transferable development rights for historic structures. Click here to read more about the Downtown Zoning Changes.
  • King County's LEED incentive - These LEED grants provide funding to projects outside the City of Seattle, but built within King County that meet stringent criteria for resource conservation. Grants are funded through the Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Solid Waste Division. Submit your application by August 17 for 2007 grants.
  • FREE Platinum Certifications Beginning January 1, 2007, USGBC is challenging the building industry to put them out of business: USGBC will fully rebate the certification fees for any project that earns LEED Platinum certification. Platinum buildings are highly energy and resource efficient; provide superior indoor comfort for the building's occupants; and dramatically reduce CO2 emissions, a primary cause of global climate change. Help USGBC build a healthy, sustainable, and prosperous future by raising your building's performance to Platinum, and they'll send you a check with your LEED plaque. To take advantage of this offer, please email USGBC at leedinfo@usgbc.org.
  • FREE LEED for Existing Buildings Registration Making the jump from new building design to ongoing operations is easier than ever. Effective January 1, 2007, LEED for Existing Buildings registration is free for all certified LEED for New Construction and LEED for Core and Shell buildings. LEED for Existing Buildings addresses whole building operations and maintenance practices, and will maximize your building's performance over time ensuring a high return on your investment.  You'll get instant access to the LEED-Online letter templates to get started on the LEED for Existing Buildings certification process. To take advantage of this offer, please email USGBC at leed-eb@usgbc.org.

Improve the environmental and economic performance of your building project with technical assistance from:

 
   

Increase Construction Recycling & Reuse Materials

Our region's strong infrastructure for reusing and recycling allows construction projects to recycle more than 75% of their waste.  Learn how to increase your recycling rate, both during construction and when your building is occupied, and get recognized for it!

Surplus Building Materials? Every Saturday from 10am to 3pm, Seattle Public Utilities and The ReStore accept reusable building materials at 1350 North 34th Street, just east of the North Transfer Station in Fremont. The ReStore accepts a variety of items, from flooring and cabinets to shelving and non hollow-core doors. For a complete list of acceptable items, visit www.re-store.org/ballard.htm. You might also consider donating building materials to local reuse stores. Visit www.nbsnonline.com for more information.

Find recycled-content products and materials with help from:

You can also re-use building materials--cabinets, doors, glass, hardware/fixtures, insulation, paint and much more--and exchange these items online with the:
   

Maximize Energy Efficiency

Seattle City Light energy conservation programs range from rebates for conservation to strategies and technologies that will help you reduce energy use and optimize your building's performance.

  • Energy Smart Services: Offers financial incentives to help medium and large businesses reduce electricity use and save money. Incentives shorten the payback on your energy efficiency investments and help improve your company's bottom line. Incentive amounts can range as high as 70% of the installation cost, and are based on energy savings. Financial Incentives, Energy Analysis Assistance and Commissioning Services work together to incorporate energy efficiency and a superior indoor environment into your building from the beginning of the design process.
  • Facility Assessment Audit (for large and medium-size commercial and industrial customers): Supporting your efforts to be profitable, this free program offers assessment audit services for your facility. It is designed to help you monitor, manage and control your electricity and other utility costs, and improve your operating efficiencies. City Light's energy management professionals will assess your facility's resource and operation efficiencies, identify efficiency improvement opportunities, and align utility services to support your business objectives. City Light has helped customers reduce operating costs by $8 million over the past five years.
  • Smart Business Program (for small business): Provides financial incentives to your small business for replacing existing inefficient lighting with approved energy efficient lighting equipment. Rebates range from $25-$65 per fixture for replacing existing lamps or fixtures with new efficient ones.
  • Lighting Design Lab's energy efficient lighting design assistance: Provides free design assistance and access to lighting resources. The Lab also has an in-house library and offers occasional seminars.
  • Federal Tax Deductions - Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT2005):  New commercial buildings or reconstructed buildings that achieve a 50% reduction in energy use qualify for a range of tax deductions up to $1.80 per square foot. Partial deductions are also available for lighting, HVAC and building envelope improvements.
  • Green Power Options: Offers two ways to increase the supply of renewable energy or "green power" by increasing demand for renewable energy resources in the Northwest, including wind and solar.  Options include:
    • Buying green power for a portion of your electricity through the Green-up Program. 
    • Paying a little more on your bill to support renewable energy demonstrations, including local solar electricity projects, through the Green Power Program.
   

Conserve Water

Enhance productivity and see substantial savings on your utility bills with Water Smart Technology Program, a water conservation program for regional commercial, industrial and institutional customers. Brought to you by local water providers in the Saving Water Partnership, including Seattle Public Utilities, the program provides financial assistance for both technical studies and project installation that makes it cost-effective to realize the benefits of water-efficient technologies. It offers an array of financial incentives for qualified water conservation projects completed by small and large businesses alike, which often reduce participant paybacks from over three years to two years or less. The program also offers technical information on water-efficient technologies, bill analysis, on-site water audits, life cycle cost analysis, free brochures and speaking engagements on water conservation, water-efficient irrigation information, and end-use metering.

The Saving Water Partnership, sponsored by a consortium of 18 local water utilities, provides education and resources for saving water and lowering utility bills.
   

Protect Site & Restore Urban Forests

Financial assistance and resources to help you protect or enhance the local watershed, salmon habitat and urban forest, plus technical assistance for better landscape design and maintenance choices:

  
   

Preserve Historic Buildings

Preserve the character and architecture of historic buildings with financial assistance and resources from:

Low interest loans and grants are available for rehabilitating or weatherizing housing property that help preserve or develop low-income and affordable housing.

  
   

Foster Community Development

Take advantage of grants that fund a variety of community projects, ranging from protecting clean water to neighborhood planning. Each grant program has a specific focus (e.g., the Seattle Dept. of Neighborhoods assists communities with a broad array of neighborhood-initiated improvement, organizing or planning projects).

 
   

Promote Transportation Solutions

Calculate the financial and environmental benefits of creating an employee commute reduction program, then create a program that motivates employees, with the following services:

  
   

Questions?

If you have questions about the green building resources listed above or are ready for personalized assistance with your project, contact our Commercial Expert today.
Last Updated: May 14, 2007