What is Green Building?

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. Sustainable design encompasses the following broad topics:

• efficient management of energy and water resources
• management of material resources and waste
• restoration and protection of environmental quality
• enhancement and protection of health and indoor environmental quality
• reinforcement of natural systems
• analysis of the life cycle costs and benefits of materials and methods
• integration of the design decision-making process 

The first green building program started in OSE in the late 1990's as part of the Environmental Management Plan (complete timeline here). Green Building is now housed at the Department of Planning and Development, which provides education, early design guidance, technical assistance and incentives.

Green Building Task Force

Mayor Nickels is convening a Green Building Task Force in June 2008 that will be jointly staffed by the Office of Sustainability and Environment and the Department of Planning and Development. The taskforce will meet monthly from June through December 2008 to provide guidance on new policy proposals aimed at making Seattle the nation’s green building capital, including meeting our target of 20% increased energy efficiency in Seattle's new and existing building stock. For more information, including meeting schedule and agendas, please visit the taskforce page.

Links

City of Seattle

Sustainable Building Policy

Sustainable Building Library

City of Seattle projects - list of the City's green buildings

Green Building Resources- including newsletters, case studies, reports and presentations

Incentives and assistance

City Light’s Sustainable Resource Guide

Sustainable Communities - Dept. of Planning and Development

Sustainable Infrastructure Forum - 2004 regional forum

Other

Sustainable Building Advisor Certification course (through South Seattle CC)

Business and Industry Resource Venture (BIRV)

King County Sustainable Building Topics

Sustainable Buildings Industry Council

US Green Building Council