Transcript SEATTLE’S path to SUSTAINABILITY

CITY OF SEATTLE
“Man did not
weave the
web of life –
he is merely
a strand in it.
Whatever he
does to the
web, he does
to himself.”
Courtesy UW
Special Collections
No. UW1899
Chief Seattle
City of Seattle
SEATTLE’S path to
SUSTAINABILITY
First
comprehensive
Seattle Energy
Code
1977
City initiates
energy
conservation.
1979
1980
City launches
water
conservation.

Conservation

Environmental Stewardship

Growth Management

Sustainability
City develops
Comprehensive
Drainage Plan to
protect surface
water quality.
1987
1988
UN World Commission
on Environment &
Development releases,
Our Common Future,
defining sustainable
development.
City Council adopts
“Comprehensive
Plan for Growth
Management,”
Toward a
Sustainable Seattle.
City Council adopts
City-wide
Environmental
Action Agenda,
embracing
sustainability as a
guiding principles.
1992
UN Earth Summit
results in Agenda
21, a global
sustainable
development
action plan.
1993
1994
Non-profit
Sustainable
Seattle publishes
first, “Indicators
of Sustainable
Community.”
1995
1996
Sustainable
Building Action
Plan - City and
private sector
recommend
strategies for
market
transformation.
City Council and City awarded a
Stockholm
Mayor adopt
Sustainable Partner Project
Building Policy for Sustainable
Cities.
– using LEED™
as performance
13 Projects
standard. committed to
LEED™ Silver.
1997
1999
1998
Establishment
of the office
currently known
as the Office of
Sustainability
and
Environment.
2000
Seattle
Municipal Civic
Center "Sustainability
should be clearly
visible in the
design.. and
celebrated as a
core value to the
community."
2001
2002
10 City building
projects
committed to
LEED™ Silver.
City of Seattle
Conservation
Seattle utilities apply
least cost accounting
principles for meeting
future demand
First city with
curbside recycling
 Energy
 Water
 Waste
City of Seattle
Environmental Stewardship

Economy founded
on natural
resource base

One of the
wealthiest places
on earth

Biologically rich

Most ecologically
intact region in
the nation
“No place on Earth has a better
shot at reconciling people and
nature…
And…no one has a greater
responsibility to set new
standards for an ecologically
endangered world.”
John Ryan, NW Environment Watch, “State
of the Northwest.” 2000
City of Seattle
Growth Management
Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan

A 20-year Growth
Management Plan to
accommodate Seattle’s
share of expected regional
growth

A set of policies guiding city
decision-makers

A legal requirement of the
State of Washington
Growth Management Act
City of Seattle
Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan
Urban Village Strategy

Direct growth into high
density areas & revitalize
existing neighborhood
business districts

Minimize impacts on single
family neighborhoods

Make efficient use of City
infrastructure investments

Promote higher levels of
pedestrian & transit travel
City of Seattle
Sustainability
The City of Seattle is
committed to trying
to meet our current
needs without
compromising the
ability of future
generations to meet
their needs.
reconnecting
communities
to nature
Environmental Action
Agenda, 1992
City of Seattle
Sustainability

Sustainable Building

Sustainable Infrastructure

Eco-procurement

Transportation Strategies

Sustainable Communities
City of Seattle
SEATTLE’S path to
SUSTAINABILITY
First
comprehensive
Seattle Energy
Code
1977
City initiates
energy
conservation.
1979
1980
City launches
water
conservation.

Conservation

Environmental Stewardship

Growth Management

Sustainability
City develops
Comprehensive
Drainage Plan to
protect surface
water quality.
1987
1988
UN World Commission
on Environment &
Development releases,
Our Common Future,
defining sustainable
development.
City Council adopts
“Comprehensive
Plan for Growth
Management,”
Toward a
Sustainable Seattle.
City Council adopts
City-wide
Environmental
Action Agenda,
embracing
sustainability as a
guiding principles.
1992
UN Earth Summit
results in Agenda
21, a global
sustainable
development
action plan.
1993
1994
Non-profit
Sustainable
Seattle publishes
first, “Indicators
of Sustainable
Community.”
1995
1996
Sustainable
Building Action
Plan - City and
private sector
recommend
strategies for
market
transformation.
City Council and City awarded a
Stockholm
Mayor adopt
Sustainable Partner Project
Building Policy for Sustainable
Cities.
– using LEED™
as performance
13 Projects
standard. committed to
LEED™ Silver.
1997
1999
1998
Establishment
of the office
currently known
as the Office of
Sustainability
and
Environment.
2000
Seattle
Municipal Civic
Center "Sustainability
should be clearly
visible in the
design.. and
celebrated as a
core value to the
community."
2001
2002
10 City building
projects
committed to
LEED™ Silver.
City of Seattle
Conservation
Energy Conservation Drivers

Oil embargo – 1973

National legislation
 Professional standards
WPPSS – Seattle rejects nuclear power – 1979

Water for Salmon – 1980’s-90’s

2000-2001 Energy debacle

City of Seattle
Conservation
Seattle Strategies for Energy Conservation

Rate structure

Incentives

Market transformation

Building codes – first adopter
City of Seattle
Conservation
Seattle Energy Code

Provides prescriptive baseline

ASHRAE and Washington Energy Code
Insulation
Glazing
Building envelope Mechanical Systems
Lighting
Water & Power
City of Seattle
Conservation
Sustainability
Seattle Energy Code  LEED Standard
• Building codes lag technology
• Prescriptive vs. performance-based
• Incentives can be development based
• Engineering/architectural capabilities
City of Seattle
Sustainability
Sustainable Building

In 2000, Seattle was first
city to adopt LEEDTM as
performance standard
for City-funded projects.
 Demonstrate
commitment to
sustainability
 Yield cost savings to City taxpayers
 Provide
healthy work environments
 Protect and enhance natural
resources
Carkeek Park Environmental
Learning Center
City of Seattle
Sustainable Building
LEED™

Sets highperformance
criteria for:
Seattle City Hall
 Sustainable
Sites
 Water Efficiency
 Energy & Atmosphere
 Materials & Resources
 Indoor
Environmental
Quality
City of Seattle
Sustainable Building
Seattle’s Portfolio
16 Projects
 Nearly 3 million
square feet
 Over $750,000,000
in capital
investment
 City projects set
new architectural
and engineering
standards

Southwest Police
Precinct
City of Seattle
Sustainable Building
Incentives


LEED Incentive
provides financial
assistance to early
adopters of LEED
Additional
incentives for:
Blakeley Village,
University of
Washington Student
Housing
 Energy
efficiency
 Water conservation

Performance-based
rather than
prescriptive
City of Seattle
Sustainable Building
Greening Affordable Housing

City developed guide for
greening subsidized
public housing

Social equity – provide
those in our
communities who can
least afford it with
healthy, high quality
affordable housing
City of Seattle
Sustainable Infrastructure
Emerging Strategies

Natural drainage
systems

Green streets

Carbon neutrality

Distributed energy
generation &
neighborhood
energy districts

Rainwater
harvesting
Greening the urban
infrastructure with
Green Streets and
Natural Drainage
Systems
City of Seattle
Sustainability Communities
Emerging Strategies

Transit oriented
design

Improved
transportation
mobility

Pedestrian-friendly

Increased public
safety
Seattle transit projects include light
rail, monorail, and streetcar
City of Seattle
Resources

Seattle’s Office of Sustainability & Environment
www.cityofseattle.net/environment

Seattle’s Department of Planning & Development
www.cityofseattle.net/dpd/energy

Seattle’s Sustainable Building Program
www.cityofseattle.net/sustainablebuilding

Seattle City Light
www.cityofseattle.net/light/conserve
City of Seattle