|
Third Quarter 2009
Welcome to the new issue of the King County GreenTools Newsletter, a periodic
electronic update to County and City staff interested in green building and
sustainable development. The newsletter is produced by King County Solid Waste Division’s GreenTools green building program.
You can submit stories, events, or announcements via e-mail.
King County’s Eco-Cool Remodel Tool wins two awards
King County’s Eco-Cool Remodel Tool has won both the 2009 Digital Government Achievement Award, and a Silver 2009 Communicator Award in the Government and Green/Eco-Friendly categories, offered by the International Academy of Visual Arts. Read more about the later award on this Web Collective News page. The Eco-Cool Remodel Tool is a virtual home that provides tips and resources on how to make your home remodeling projects more environmentally friendly. Visit the Remodel Tool Web page here.
King County’s Vashon Island Center earns Forest Green certification
King County Newsroom, July 1, 2009
A nearly 400-acre forest that shelters the headwaters of Vashon Island’s largest salmon-bearing stream and provides miles of recreational trails has received national recognition for its ecologically sound management. For more information, read the complete article.
Federal stimulus provides $6.1 million for green energy projects in King County
King County Newsroom, July 17, 2009,
Roughly 250 regional jobs will be created from $6.1 million awarded to King County from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. Pending DOE approval, the funds will support nine different energy efficiency building and transportation projects. The grant was awarded last month as part of the federal government’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. For more information, read the complete article.
Mercer Slough Environmental Center receives LEED Gold certification
City of Bellevue News Release, Aug. 24, 2009
The Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center has earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for its innovative environmental design and sustainable features. Opened last October, the environmental center is a collection of relatively small buildings built on pilings to minimize impact on the surrounding wetland. Environmentally friendly features include green roofs, rain gardens, “passive” ventilation that conserves energy and recycled building materials. For more information, visit this City of Bellevue news release.
Starbucks commits to green building
Sustainable Industries, June 26, 2009
In late June, Starbucks announced that starting in 2010, all new stores and store renovations will achieve at least LEED certification. New and renovated stores will increase their use of locally sourced and recycled building materials, and get at least 50 percent of their energy from renewable resources. By 2015 they will have 100 percent of their cups either reusable or recyclable, and make recycling available in all stores. They are also in the process of installing new metered faucets, which will save about 150 gallons of water per month in each store. You can read the complete
article here.
2009 LEED Grants round opens; local green building projects eligible
The King County Green Building Grants application period is open now through Sept. 30. King County Green Building Grants provide up to $35,000 per project to assist projects targeting LEED Gold or Platinum certification. Grants are awarded competitively to projects within King County, but outside Seattle city limits, for commercial, institutional and multi-family building projects that seek LEED Gold or Platinum certification. Grant awards are up to $25,000 for LEED Gold and up to $35,000 for LEED Platinum. Grant application materials are available at the LEED Grants Web page. For more information, contact Ric Cochrane at 206-263-6037 or ric.cochrane@kingcounty.gov.
2009 Built Green Incentives
The King County/Seattle Built Green® incentive provides funding for single-family new construction, townhomes, remodels and multifamily projects to help offset the cost of certifying and designing innovative green projects throughout Seattle and King County. Eligible projects may receive up to $20,000. The 2009 incentive focus is on water conservation and the impact our development has on the health of watersheds throughout the Puget Sound. Grants are funded through the Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) and Solid Waste Division (SWD) of the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP), and by Seattle Public Utilities. The application deadline is Sept. 18. For more information and to apply, visit the incentive Web page.
Become a beta tester for the new Cascadia Communities Coalition Wiki
The Cascadia Region Green Building Council is launching the beta version of its Cascadia Communities Coalition Wiki. This Web site allows municipal sustainability staff, state and provincial sustainability policy advisers, social and environmental sustainability policy advocates and educators to share information much more quickly and in a more compressed and focused way than e-mail, listserves or other modes of communication. For more on the Wiki and to become a beta tester, visit this information page.
Design for Livability: Sustainable Cities
Now in its second year, this forum brings our region’s planning, design, development, and civic leaders and advocates together to better understand what we can do to build a stronger future. The forum is organized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Seattle in collaboration with the Cascade Land Conservancy and the UW College of Built Environments. It will be held Oct.15-16 at the University of Washington. There are discounted rates for government employees, students and AIA members. For more information and to register, visit the forum Web page.
Low Impact Development GreenTools Training: Sept. 15 and 16
Learn about the benefits and challenges associated with Low Impact Development (LID), and how cities are permitting these special sustainable projects. Recently, the Pollution Control Hearings Board ordered that the Phase I National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) municipal stormwater permit be modified to require the use of LID as feasible. This presentation will discuss the changes to requirements and implications for local jurisdictions. Presentation locations will be at Redmond City Hall on Sept. 15, in the Council Conference Room, and at King County Department of Development and Environmental Services in Renton on September 16, in the Hearing Room. Check out the trainings brochure for more information about the training and how to attend.
New LEED for Homes Affiliate Program for Local Green Building Programs
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the introduction of its new LEED for Homes Affiliate Program. The program allows regional green home building programs to promote the growing green residential market by partnering with USGBC as a LEED for Homes Affiliate. This new program is designed to work flexibly and smoothly with other third-party green home providers. More information can be found at this press release page.
ReGeneration Speaker Series: The Architectural Challenge of 2030
This year’s AIA Seattle ReGeneration Speaker Series is offering four collaborative conversations with local sustainability experts. The next event is taking place on September 17 from 4-6 p.m. in the Arnold Board Room of the Seattle Art Museum. For more details, visit the series Web page.
Placing green projects, constructed or conceptual, from around the county in the "limelight." Have an idea for a feature project? Submit your idea here.
 |
Burien Library and City Hall
|
Burien Library and City Hall
The Burien Library and City Hall is located in heart of the new Town Square development in downtown Burien, which opened in June 2009. Designed by Ruffcorn Mott Hinthorne Stine, this project is a collaboration between the city and the King County Library System. It features a three story, 49,000 square foot building and parking garage that is shared between the library and city hall. It was designed to achieve LEED Silver certification. Once certified, it will be the first LEED-rated building in Burien. Energy saving features include the extensive use of natural daylight, sensors that turn off lights in unoccupied rooms, exterior sun shades, and the use of efficient HVAC systems. Water saving features include an efficient irrigation system, the heavy use of native and drought-tolerant vegetation, duel-flush toilets, waterless urinals, and low-flow faucets— combining to save more than 200,000 gallons of water per year. Other sustainable considerations include non-toxic carpet and paints, its close proximity to the Burien Transit Center, and bike racks and showers for those who bike or walk to work. For more information about this project, visit this fact sheet on the King County Libraries Web site.
|
Forward
this newsletter