Indicators
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Green Building
About this indicator: This indicator represents the number of houses and commercial buildings being built in King County that meet certain environmental standards. The standards being used are
- For Commercial buildings -- the national Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)® rating system; and
- For residential buildings -- the local Built Green certification program.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed the LEED rating system to provide a benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance commercial green buildings. LEED recognizes performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
The Built Green program is a partnership between the Master Builder's Association of King and Snohomish Counties, King and Snohomish Counties, and the City of Seattle. New houses and communities building to Built Green standards must meet criteria from the program's checklist, including categories in site and water, energy efficiency, indoor air quality and material selection.
Green building practices are an important indicator of the resource consumption patterns of King County residents because the construction and remodeling of buildings uses many resources and the ongoing operation of buildings continues to consume resources. Additionally, buildings may have both positive and negative ongoing environmental health impacts to building occupants.
Number of Built Green™ homes certified at the 3- to 5-Star levels in King County
2007 Results: 1,452.
2008 Results: 1,094.
Influencing Factors: Due to the economic downturn in the housing market in 2007, the BuiltGreen Program experienced a reduced number of certifications. However, the overall program remains ahead of the original 2001 BuiltGreen business plan target of 10,000 houses certified by 2010.
Strategy Going Forward: The Built Green Program plans to phase out the 1- and 2-Star levels by 2010. In addition, King County and Seattle Public Utilities are implementing new grant incentives for building 4-and 5-Star homes.
Number of Built Green™ certified homes in King County 2000 - 2008
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Number of buildings in King County achieving a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating
About this indicator: This indicator measures represent the number of commercial buildings being built in King County that meet the national Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) rating system. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed the LEED rating system to provide a benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance commercial green buildings. LEED recognizes performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
2008 Results: 14
Influencing Factors: Green building practices are influenced by incentives, technical assistance, increased consumer demand, and the increases in local companies and practitioners skilled in the design, construction and maintainance of high performing green buildings.
Strategy Going Forward: The King County GreenTools green building program offers incentives for developers to achieve LEED certification. In addition, the program offers technical assistance to support the development of more environmentally-friendly and healthy LEED buildings.
LEED Certified Buildings
2003 — 2008
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What you can do
As a homeowner: Learn more about purchasing a green home, green home remodeling and maintenance by following up on the following resources:- For home energy audits
- For information about building and remodeling using green materials and practices
- For purchasing a green home
As a builder or design professional: Build your capacity for green design and construction methods by connecting to local professional organizations, such as: the Cascadia Green Building Council or the NW Eco-building Guild
Technical Notes
For definitions and more detail.
