Sustainable Washington

3.10 Project Example #1

Action: Commute Reduction Program
Who: Whatcom County, WA
More Info: https://www.whatcomsmarttrips.org

Several cities in the Puget Sound region have developed telework programs to incentivize employees to work from home in order to reduce commute travel. In addition, programs such as Whatcom County’s pilot “Smart Trips” have demonstrated success in supporting the use of alternatives to autos. The program encourages people through education and voluntary incentive measures to choose walking, bicycling, ridesharing, vanpooling and riding the bus. Smart Trips works with employers to develop a worksite program; individuals can also register and receive rewards such as discounts from local businesses.

3.10 Public Health | Table of Contents

Sustainable Washington

Appendix A: Summary List of Recommended Actions Page 3

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Sustainable Washington

Appendix B: Punchlist Case Studies

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Sustainable Washington

Appendix A: Summary List of Recommended Actions Page 2

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Sustainable Washington

3.9 Project Example #2

Action: Assessment of Service Delivery by Equity Measures
Where: King County, WA
More Info: http://www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/measures/equity.aspx and
http://www.kingcounty.gov/exec/equity.aspx

In support of the King County Equity and Social Justice Initiative passed in 2008, the county’s Department Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) began carrying out an equity assessment of it services. Through the use of geographic information systems (GIS), services and facilities were mapped along with basic demographic conditions such as race and income. DNRP has evaluated parks and trails, water quality, hazardous waste management, and wastewater and solid waste facility locations to identify any disproportionate benefits and burdens that could be addressed through program adjustments or reprioritizations.

Example of [geo-spatial analysis and equity indicators]: Map of Water Quality Audits by Income. (Image from referenced web-link.)

3.9 Social Equity | Table of Contents

Sustainable Washington

3.9 Project Example #3

One of the truckloads from an Edison Neighborhood clean-up in Tacoma. Image from referenced web-link.

Action: Community Based Services
Where: Tacoma, WA
More Info: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?nid=13,
http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=601,
and http://vancouver.ca/NIST/nis_teams.htm

The Community Based Services program works in Tacoma neighborhoods that have shown need for additional police, fire, and code enforcement. The program identifies neighborhood priorities by working closely with community members and pulls personnel from multiple departments for comprehensive problem-solving. Entering its third year, the program has already experienced notable success: 21 drug houses were shut down in its first year, a community waste collection resulted in 12 tons of items removed for property clean-up, as well as $2,700 in tickets administered in targeted speeding centers. The program bears resemblance to the Neighbourhood Integrated Service Team program of Vancouver, BC, which draws on a slightly different mix of government personnel.

3.9 Social Equity | Table of Contents

Sustainable Washington

3.9 Project Example #1

Action: Sustainability Plan
Where: Vancouver, WA
More Info: http://www.cityofvancouver.us/sustainability.asp

The City of Vancouver is currently in the process of developing a sustainability plan that outlines the city’s sustainability principles, goals, and strategies. The Green Ribbon Panel, composed of appointed citizens and city directors, was created in 2007 to establish the vision, mission, and principles guiding the plan. The draft plan, Creating a More Sustainable Vancouver, includes social equity as one of the five guiding principles in which it states: “Social and cultural equity and diversity contribute to a thriving and vibrant economy and environment.” Social equity is also one of the nine major goals in which the plan identifies indicators to monitor the status of each goal.

3.9 Social Equity | Table of Contents

Sustainable Washington

3.8 Project Example #1

Action: Zero Energy Project, “ZHome”
Where: Issaquah
More Info: http://www.z-home.org/ ,
http://www.ci.issaquah.wa.us/Page.asp?NavID=1625,
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003628451_zeroenergy21e.html and
http://www.ci.issaquah.wa.us/Page.asp?NavID=325

In 2006 the City of Issaquah began planning for an innovative 10-unit “ZHome”townhouse development. The housing benchmarks include: Zero net energy use, Zero average net carbon emissions from home operations, a 90% diversion of all construction-related debris, 60% reduction in average water use, as well as low toxicity of materials and proper ventilation. Multiple features helping achieve these benchmarks include: solar “photovoltaic” panels, heavy insulation and double-paned windows, highly efficient “Energy Star”Appliances, large on-site rainwater cisterns, and locally-produced/recycled/durable materials including FSC-certified wood.

The project, built to be affordable to the median income, was sponsored by the city and aided through collaboration with King County, Built Green, Port Blakely Communities, Puget Sound Energy, and the Washington State University Program. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in October 2008, and project completion is slated for the end of 2009.

Not only is the City of Issaquah modeling a higher standard for its building stock, it also employs a variety of incentives for more green buildings in the future, including water utility rebates, energy rebates, free technical assistance, and preferential building permit review.

3.8 Construction and Green Building Practices | Table of Contents

Sustainable Washington

3.6 Project Example #2

Action: Columbia River Crossing (CRC) Project
Who: Oregon and Washington States Departments of Transportation
More Info: http://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/

The Columbia River Crossing is the recipient of a National Association of Environmental Professionals 2009 Environmental Excellence Award in the category of NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) Excellence. CRC is a bridge, transit and highway project that addresses congestion, safety and mobility problems on I-5 between Portland and Vancouver. CRC was selected for this award because the project “demonstrates a novel method to assess the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and through the environmental review process identify a less overall impacting alternative for a complex transportation project,” according to the letter received from the organization’s president, Jim Melton. The award honors the project’s approach to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change evaluation in the May 2008 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). “I applaud and commend the Washington and Oregon departments of transportation on this award of excellence. Working together, they have proven that protecting the environment can be a mainstream practice and an important component of environmental review standards on this critical project,” stated Washington Governor Chris Gregoire.

“This award recognizes the leadership that our two states are providing toward the development of environmentally responsible and sustainable transportation solutions for the generations to come,” said Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski. “We need to reduce greenhouse gases while still improving an international trade corridor and removing freight bottlenecks. We must do both.”

“CRC exemplifies the department’s commitment to innovative transportation planning that considers a wide range of community and environmental effects, in addition to traffic flow. The CRC project is a national model that will benefit freight mobility, commuters and the environment,” said Paula Hammond, Washington State Transportation Secretary.

Director Matt Garrett of the Oregon Department of Transportation, added, “We are proud to be leading the way for the country by providing a new method of incorporating climate change in the transportation alternatives analysis.”

3.6 Mobility | Table of Contents

Sustainable Washington

3.6 Project Example #1

Action: Commute Reduction Program
Who: Whatcom County, WA
More Info: https://www.whatcomsmarttrips.org

Several cities in the Puget Sound region have developed telework programs to incentivize employees to work from home in order to reduce commute travel. In addition, programs such as Whatcom County’s pilot “Smart Trips” have demonstrated success in supporting the use of alternatives to autos. The program encourages people through education and voluntary incentive measures to choose walking, bicycling, ridesharing, vanpooling and riding the bus. Smart Trips works with employers to develop a worksite program; individuals can also register and receive rewards such as discounts from local businesses.

3.6 Mobility | Table of Contents

Sustainable Washington

3.3 Project Example #3

Action: Community Energy Project
Where: Bainbridge Island and Ellensburg, WA
More Info: www.solar4rschools.org and http://www.b-e-f.org/renewables/ellensburg.shtm

Solar panels on Sakai Intermediate School in Bainbridge, WA.
Image from referenced web-link.

Community Energy Solutions, a non-profit on Bainbridge Island, recently installed a 5.1 kilowatt solar array on the Bainbridge Sakai Intermediate School. The project benefited from the Solar4RSchools program through Bonneville Power Administration, using community outreach to raise the additional $30,000 for the panels in less than 3 months. Another energy example is the community solar project in Ellensburg, Washington – a partnership with the City of Ellensburg and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. In 2006 the city installed a solar system supported through an innovative and unique financing approach—individuals and businesses making financial contributions are given direct credit on their electricity bills for the green power produced.

3.3 Energy | Table of Contents

Sustainable Washington

3.3 Project Example #2

Action: Purchasing Green Power
Where: Bellingham, WA
More Info: http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/communities/communities/bellinghamwacommunity.htm and http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/index.htm

Bellingham’s Environmental Learning Center

In 2007 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named the City of Bellingham its Green Power Partner of the Year, providing national recognition of Bellingham’s effort to promote renewable energy. Through collaborative efforts with the non-profit Sustainable Connections, as well as Puget Sound Energy (PSE), the Bellingham community doubled it green power purchases and quadrupled its goal of raising 9,000 MWH of green power. In addition, the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County governments began purchasing 100 percent green energy from PSE.

Building upon the city’s visionary efforts, Puget Sound Energy funded the installation of a 2040-watt solar energy system on Bellingham’s Environmental Learning Center at Maritime Heritage Park; the center will continue to raise awareness of renewable energy. EPA’s Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that supports the organizational purchasing of green power by offering technical support and resources. EPA also works with local governments and businesses to lower the transaction costs of buying green power, reduce its carbon footprint, and communicate its leadership to key stakeholders.

3.3 Energy | Table of Contents

Sustainable Washington

3.3 Project Example #1

Action: Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory
Where: Washougal, WA
More Info: http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/tools/cacp-software,
http://www.theclimateregistry.org/, and
http://www.washougal.biz/forms/green/Washougal%20Sustainability.pdf

In 2008 and 2009 Washougal, WA, participated in the London-based Carbon Disclosure Project, joining 21 US cities such as Denver and New York in assessing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from city operations. The assessment was conducted using CACP software as developed by ICLEI, an international association advancing sustainability at the local level with over 1,000 member cities. Of the 23 ICLEI members in Washington State, at least 16 are conducting or have completed inventories of their GHG emissions. The CACP software was recently updated in 2009, providing a uniform standard of GHG reporting that aligns with the Climate Registry (see link above); other GHG reporting tools and organizations are available and also warrant investigating. A June 2009 Sustainability newsletter within the city notes that the GHG inventory will help the city to better develop sustainability policies and monitor its use of natural resources.

Conducting a GHG inventory provides insight not only into emissions levels but also energy consumption itself, as detailed energy data is required for reporting. Washougal will take the next steps of setting reduction targets and develop reduction strategies over the summer of 2009. In the meantime, the city is noting that it may enjoy some economic advantages from GHG reporting, including energy efficiency savings, and commercial advantages for businesses seeking “greener” cities in which to locate their headquarters.

The 16 Washington cities known for conducting or having completed GHG inventories are: Bellevue, Bellingham, Edmonds, Everett, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Langley, Lynnwood, Redmond, Renton, Seattle, Shoreline, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, and Washougal.

3.3 Energy | Table of Contents

Sustainable Washington

3.2 Project Example #3

Action: Transfer of Development (TDR) Program
Where: King County and Snohomish County, WA
More Info:
King County - http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/stewardship/sustainable-building/transfer-development-rights.aspx
Snohomish County - http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/PDS/Divisions/LR_Planning/Projects_Programs/Agriculture_Resources/Transfer_of_development_rights.htm

Between its inception in 1999 to 2008, King County's TDR Program preserved nearly 92,000 acres of valuable open space and fish and wildlife habitat – nearly twice the land of any other TDR program in the United States. The TDR program has been utilized to increase housing density in downtown Seattle developments, as well as suburban areas, while preserving rural land in King County. Former King County Executive, Ron Sims, said "This partnership is a terrific example of the county and city moving beyond political boundaries and acting for the betterment of the entire region."

Less urbanized areas, such as Snohomish County, are also implementing TDR programs to protect their natural resources. A pilot project was first established in the City of Arlington and was expanded in 2008 to other parts of the County through the comprehensive plan. The TDR program’s primary goal is to conserve the existing 63,000 acres of commercial farmland in Snohomish County.

3.2 Ecosystems and Water | Table of Contents

Sustainable Washington

3.1 Project Example #2

Action: Updating SEPA Policy
Where: King County and Seattle, WA
More Info: http://www.kingcounty.gov/property/permits/info/SiteSpecific/ClimateChange.aspx and http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/GreenhouseGas/Overview/

In October 2007 King County became the first local government in the U.S. to address climate change through SEPA by requiring an evaluation of GHG emissions when reviewing development permits. The County developed a Climate Change Impacts Worksheet to assist developers in providing their SEPA checklist information, helping to estimate the quantity of GHG emissions generated over the life span of a building. The assessment looks at emissions associated with obtaining construction materials, fuel used during construction, energy consumed during the building’s operation, and transportation impacts of the building’s occupants.

Seattle soon followed suit by adopting a similar ordinance in December 2007. By including a GHG emissions evaluation as part of the environmental review, the city moves closer to its climate change goals. Seattle aims to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other climate-changing greenhouse gases in the city to 30% of 1990 levels by 2024, and by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050, as outlined in its comprehensive plan. Though the ordinance does not require changes in the development proposals as a result of the review, the data obtained will help inform decisions on City SEPA Policy.

3.1 Climate Change Impacts and Hazards | Table of Contents