Seattle builders can take advantage of at least two certification programs: LEED™ and Built Green™. These programs provide complete frameworks for assessing a building's performance and meeting sustainability goals. LEED™ is a national program for commercial buildings. Built Green is a local program for residential construction. Financial and technical assistance incentives are available for projects in Seattle that use these rating systems. For fact sheets about BUILT GREEN™ and LEED™, click here.

LEED™

LEED™ stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED™ emphasizes state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. A project achieves a LEED™ Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum rating based on the number of points achieved in these five environmental categories.

Members of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), representing all segments of the building industry, developed LEED™ by consensus and continue to contribute to its evolution. LEED™ standards are currently available for: new construction/ major renovations, existing buildings, commercial interiors, and core and shell buildings. A USGBC committee is currently developing a LEED™ rating system for homes and neighborhoods.

The City of Seattle requires all their capital projects over 5,000 square feet to build to the LEED™ Silver level. The City's LEED™ Incentive is encouraging the private sector to build to similar standards with a financial incentive and technical assistance.

BUILT GREEN™

Built Green™ is a local standard for developing high-performance, sustainable, residential buildings. Built Green provides a framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals in the areas of sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, indoor environmental quality and homeowner education. A building project earns points in each of these environmental areas to achieve a Built Green™ one, two or three star rating. Single family homes earn one to five star ratings.

he Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish counties developed Built Green in partnership with King County, Snohomish County and the Fannie Mae Foundation. Built Green standards are available for single family and multi-family new construction, single family remodels, and residential developments. The Built Green multi-family rating system is currently being updated.

BUILT SMART™

BUILT SMART™ is a program for multi-family buildings only. Seattle City Light offers financial incentives to architects, builders and owners to design and build energy and resource-efficient market rate and affordable multi-family housing.