Green building could get King County grants
Local green building projects receive funding; New grant round in 2009
King County has more green buildings than any other county in the United States – and there’s room for even more sustainably
designed and built projects.
The King County Solid Waste Division is offering solutions to developers and construction professionals who want to design and
build green buildings with grant funding through the county’s GreenTools program, which promotes environmentally responsible
design and construction.
Grants are awarded competitively to projects within King County, but outside the Seattle city limits, for commercial, institutional and
multi-family building projects that seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Grant awards range
from $20,000 to $30,000, depending on the level of certification achieved.
Several local governments, businesses and organizations recently received LEED grant funding ranging from $20,000 to $25,000
per project and totaling $130,000. Among the grant recipients were the cities of Auburn and Kenmore, Google, the YWCA of Seattle-
King County, the Highline Historical Society, and CAC Real Estate Management.
The grants provide added incentive for organizations to increase the environmental performance in their buildings, which can
provide long-term savings in the form of lower energy costs, healthier indoor environments, and lower water usage.
Grant funding also help offset the costs sometimes associated with green building, and encourage a wider range of business to
build green projects.
For example, the City of Kenmore received a $25,000 grant for its new City Hall project, which will seek LEED-Gold certification, and
will use a number of energy and water efficiency strategies to conserve resources.
"From the start of the City Hall project, the City Council has made sustainability a priority – not only for the long term environmental
benefits and healthy workplace, but also as a statement about the community's values," said Nancy Ousley, Assistant City Manager
with the City of Kenmore. “Maximizing the use of recycled-content materials and adding photovoltaic panels will further decrease the
project’s environmental footprint.”
Grant award projects also serve as demonstrations of high performance, replicable green buildings for the region, and highlight
those organizations that are making significant contributions to local communities, the local economy and the environment.
King County's GreenTools program helps builders, residents, businesses and governments create and sustain green buildings
and developments. The GreenTools Team can help project owners with technical assistance and training, grants, and resources to
help find locally-produced, high quality sustainable building materials.
GreenTools will make several more grants available in 2009. Applications will be available at the GreenTools Web site, www.
greentools.us, and will be accepted from March through June 2009. For more information, contact Dan Farrell at 206-263-6037 or
dan.farrell@kingcounty.gov.
Related Information
King County GreenTools
King County Solid Waste Division
Local green building projects receive funding; New grant round in 2009
King County has more green buildings than any other county in the United States – and there’s room for even more sustainably
designed and built projects.
The King County Solid Waste Division is offering solutions to developers and construction professionals who want to design and
build green buildings with grant funding through the county’s GreenTools program, which promotes environmentally responsible
design and construction.
Grants are awarded competitively to projects within King County, but outside the Seattle city limits, for commercial, institutional and
multi-family building projects that seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Grant awards range
from $20,000 to $30,000, depending on the level of certification achieved.
Several local governments, businesses and organizations recently received LEED grant funding ranging from $20,000 to $25,000
per project and totaling $130,000. Among the grant recipients were the cities of Auburn and Kenmore, Google, the YWCA of Seattle-
King County, the Highline Historical Society, and CAC Real Estate Management.
The grants provide added incentive for organizations to increase the environmental performance in their buildings, which can
provide long-term savings in the form of lower energy costs, healthier indoor environments, and lower water usage.
Grant funding also help offset the costs sometimes associated with green building, and encourage a wider range of business to
build green projects.
For example, the City of Kenmore received a $25,000 grant for its new City Hall project, which will seek LEED-Gold certification, and
will use a number of energy and water efficiency strategies to conserve resources.
"From the start of the City Hall project, the City Council has made sustainability a priority – not only for the long term environmental
benefits and healthy workplace, but also as a statement about the community's values," said Nancy Ousley, Assistant City Manager
with the City of Kenmore. “Maximizing the use of recycled-content materials and adding photovoltaic panels will further decrease the
project’s environmental footprint.”
Grant award projects also serve as demonstrations of high performance, replicable green buildings for the region, and highlight
those organizations that are making significant contributions to local communities, the local economy and the environment.
King County's GreenTools program helps builders, residents, businesses and governments create and sustain green buildings
and developments. The GreenTools Team can help project owners with technical assistance and training, grants, and resources to
help find locally-produced, high quality sustainable building materials.
GreenTools will make several more grants available in 2009. Applications will be available at the GreenTools Web site, www.
greentools.us, and will be accepted from March through June 2009. For more information, contact Dan Farrell at 206-263-6037 or
dan.farrell@kingcounty.gov.
Related Information
King County GreenTools
King County Solid Waste Division
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