King County’s GreenTools Program named to top 50 ‘Innovations in American Government’ list

A program that has helped usher in a green-building revolution in western Washington was today selected from among more than 500 applicants across the nation and named as a top 50 finalist for the 2009 Innovations in American Government award, sponsored by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Institute of Democratic Governance and Innovation.

The King County Solid Waste Division’s green building program – GreenTools— represents the best in “one-stop-shopping” for green building innovation from local, county, city, tribal, state and federal governments. The program will compete with the other finalists for a monetary grant, to be awarded this summer.

King County GreenTools’ mission is to inspire the public and private sectors to create buildings that promote sustainability and minimize climate change impacts in everything from building design, material selection and recycling.

“Since its inception 14 years ago, the GreenTools program has been a major driver in supporting green building throughout Washington state and has provided unique programming that is nationally recognized,” said Jason F. McLennan President and CEO of the Cascadia Green Building Council. “The recognition from the Ash Institute shows that GreenTools is a national model for government-sponsored green building initiatives.”

The GreenTools program’s approach is focused on tapping the power of collaboration—building effective partnerships with other local and national organizations and marrying those partnerships with innovative programs and voluntary incentives.

For example, in partnership with the private building community, GreenTools helped start the King and Snohomish County Built Green program in 1999, which is a voluntary rating system for homes that encourages sustainable building practices.

To date, more than 10,000 homes have been certified in King County and today, approximately 25 percent of the new residential construction in King County is being constructed to Built Green standards. GreenTools also worked with the county’s permitting agency to provide incentives to permit applicants who seek Built Green certification.

“By forging relationships with groups such as the American Institute of Architects and the U.S. Green Building Council, we have been able to step out of our traditional government agency roles and innovate far more than we would have been able to do on our own,” said Theresa Jennings Director of King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks. “We see GreenTools as a comprehensive set of resources to facilitate green building at a regional level. “

One of GreenTools’ greatest accomplishments has been establishing the partnerships, policies and the infrastructure needed to improve the recycling of construction and demolition waste. The program has been a catalyst for increasing jobsite recycling in King County by 15 percent over the last six years.

In 2007, King County recycled 82 percent of its construction waste – an accomplishment that was achieved, in part, by establishing a builder recognition program, by creating tools such as waste guidelines and a directory of local recyclers, by providing onsite presentations about recycling options and practice, and conducting onsite one-on-one assistance.

For more information on the GreenTools program, visit www.greentools.us.

Related information

GreenTools

King County Solid Waste