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County Architects Design Along Earth Friendly LinesA national green building certification program is catching on in Whatcom County.
More than 20 local architects and engineers have passed the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design accreditation exam this year. Bellingham officials are considering making any new city building green and creating incentives for private developers to do the same.
The LEED certification encompasses a wide range of factors, such as whether a building goes up on farmland or near a bus stop and how much space it takes up, reduction and recycling of materials, use of renewable materials, low use of energy and water, and reduction of indoor air pollutants.
In addition to being better for the planet, LEED-certified buildings have lower operating costs and happier, healthier occupants, according to the Green Building Council. Green buildings can cut heating and cooling energy needs by 60 percent and lighting energy needs by half, slash water use by 30 percent or more and increase employee productivity by 16 percent, according to Seattle's sustainable building policy.
The LEED rating, established in 2000, has certified, silver, gold and platinum levels.
Brennan Schumacher said he got involved in green building and the Green Building Council as a lighting designer in Fort Collins, Colo., before moving
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