Green Buildings Update

More than 30% of Washington's greenhouse gas emissions come from energy use in buildings, so it is important for us to make them as sustainable and low impact as possible.

Washington's High Performance Green Buildings law, the first of its kind in the nation, requires state-funded buildings, including colleges, universities and government facilities to be designed, built and certified to at least a Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) ranking.

According to Stuart Simpson, the Green Building Advisor to the Department of General Administration, there are over a hundred state projects in design or construction that will meet the LEED Silver standard.Additionally, many projects are currently pushing to achieve the higher LEED Gold certification. Although most of these projects are still in the design or construction phases - about 20 are estimated to be completed this summer - we can say with confidence that passage of this law has already and will continue to help Washington reduce its climate change pollution from the built environment.

One standout project that is a direct result of the High Performance Green Buildings law is at Spokane Falls Community College. Completed in December 2007, the building for Business and Social Sciences was certified as LEED Gold in February 2009. According to Dennis Dunham, the Director of Capital Projects for the Community Colleges of Spokane, the building was constructed using mostly local products that came from within 40 miles away. They were able to use many recycled and renewable materials as well. Sustainable concepts such as maximizing natural daylight and energy efficiency, focusing external landscaping on native plants and low-drip irrigation systems, and including natural ventilation were all incorporated into the new 70,000 square-foot building. Additionally, over 95% of the construction waste material was recycled.

Now our state has taken another big step to improve buildings, through the Efficiency First law (passed this year).

By Lexi Fish, Washington Environmental Council

WEC was a pioneer in this effort when, in 2005, they joined with Cascadia Green Building Council, the American Institute of Architects Washington Council, and progressive developers to pass the law.