Green Building

About These Performance Measures: These measures represent the number of houses and commercial buildings being built in King County that meet certain environmental standards. The standards being used are the national Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)™ rating system and 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.

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Number of Built Green™ homes certified at the 3- to 5-Star levels in King County

2006 results: 3,035 homes

2006 target: 2,125 homes

2007 target: 2,525 homes

Influencing factors: A high number (2,866) of 3-Star homes were built in 2006, as some developers of Built Green Communities have existing contracts with builders to build homes at the 1- to 3-Star levels (although in some cases builders are voluntarily going above the 3-Star level).

Strategy going forward: The Built Green Program plans to phase out the 1- and 2-Star levels by 2010.

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Number of Built Green™ homes certified at four-star and five-star levels in King County

2006 results: 169 homes

2006 target: 125 homes

2007 target: 425 homes

Influencing factors: A high number (168) of four-star homes were built in 2006, as some Built Green communities are now requiring builders to increase the level of certification from three star to four star.

Strategy going forward: In 2007, King County and Seattle Public Utilities will begin implementing new grant incentives for building four- and five- star homes.

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Number of buildings in King County achieving a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified or silver rating

2006 results: 6 buildings

2006 target: target not identified

Influencing factors: Interest in green building increases as awareness of its benefits grows.

Strategy going forward: The King County GreenTools green building program offers incentives for developers to certify buildings to LEED™. In addition, the program offers technical assistance to support the development of more environmentally-friendly and healthy LEED™ buildings.

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Number of buildings in King County achieving a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold or platinum rating

2006 results: 3 buildings

2006 target: target not identified

Influencing factors: Interest in green building increases as awareness of its benefits grows.

Strategy going forward: The King County GreenTools green building program offers incentives for developers to certify buildings to LEED™. In addition, the program offers technical assistance to support the development of more environmentally-friendly and healthy LEED™ buildings.

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