Whatcom County Green Building Incentives

In the summer of 2004, Whatcom County’s Planning and Development Services Department (PDS) decided that it should get involved in the small, but growing green-building community of Whatcom County.  Shortly thereafter, Wain Harrison, a supervisor in the Building Services Division of PDS, joined the Building Industry Association’s Built Green Committee.  Over the next several months, he participated with the Committee in developing its Built Green checklist, which provides builders with over 260 ways they can improve the environmental performance of the structures they build.... (More)

LEED Certification of the Whatcom County Courthouse

In June of 2005, Whatcom County Council unanimously approved a resolution calling for all future County building projects to be built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) “Silver” standard.  This meant that for all projects begun after that date, the concepts of sustainable design, energy and water conservation, indoor environmental quality, and waste reduction would be incorporated from the earliest planning stages of the building.... (More)

LEED Certification of the Wade King Recreation Center at WWU

In April of 2007, Western’s Wade King Student Recreation Center was awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC,) recognizing its advanced achievements in sustainability. This certification is the first in the nation for a university recreation center with a pool. “The LEED recognition for our recreation center is unusual. It is another example of the University’s continuing commitment to and national leadership with issues of sustainability,” said Western President Karen W. Morse.... (More)