Energy use

About this indicator: This is a 'place holder' for an indicator on building energy use that is currently under development.

Because energy use can have both a large upstream and downstream ecological footprint, it is an important component of the indicator of the resource consumption patterns of King County residents. Much of our household energy use is from (relatively clean) hydro-electric sources, though natural gas is used widely for residential furnaces, hot water tanks, and generating electricity during peak load periods.

If residential building energy use increases in King County, there are upstream impacts associated with water flow in rivers and extracting fossil fuels, and downstream impacts including air and climate pollution. By achieving lower per household energy use (through increasing efficiencies of buildings and appliances), and increasing renewable energy sources, our communities consume fewer resources and have a lighter impact.

King County is not a direct energy provider, and at this time does not have a current data set that depicts residential energy use patterns and trends in King County, but is developing this indicator and maps that show variations in residential energy use by neighborhood type.

Status: Residential energy use trends in King County are not yet tracked and reported on in a coordinated manner at this time, though DNRP is exploring ways of looking at both energy consumption and sourcing trends.

Influencing factors: A range of factors (that are technical, cultural, economic and political) influence energy use levels in King County homes.

DNRP response: King County Solid Waste Division promotes and supports residential green building practices through a partnership with the Master Builders of Snohomish and King Counties and by providing education and technical assistance to homeowners and developers.

Priority new actions: King County seeks to further reduce residential energy use by promoting green building practices in single and multi-family residential construction and remodeling.

What you can do:

• If remodeling, buying or building a home, seek to achieve the energy points outlined in Built Green