The Sustainable Development Task Force (SDTF) has formulated an Action Plan to guide its activities. The Task Force will focus on achieving the following outcomes:
1. Educate key public sector decision makers about sustainable
development and green building.
The Task Force will make four presentations to local government officials, have small group discussions, and distribute a quarterly newsletter. The SDTF will sponsor a conference in 2007 to promote sustainable development to the public, public officials, builders, developers, and the real estate industry. The task force will also prepare at least two case studies to distribute at events that describe successful sustainable projects in Snohomish County.
2. Facilitate adoption of low impact development (LID) projects.
The phrase “low impact development” refers to an innovative stormwater management approach modeled after nature to manage rainfall at the source. Stormwater can be managed through small, cost-effective landscape features located at the lot level versus large and costly end-of-pipe facilities.
LID allows for greater development potential with less environmental impacts through the use of smarter designs and advanced technologies that achieve a better balance between conservation, growth, ecosystem protection, and public health/quality of life.
The Task Force will seek to aide the approval and construction of at least four (4) LID projects by
- educating the public
- advocating
- developing case studies
- providing technical expertise
- mediating
Furthermore, the Task Force will develop a set of “best practices” to provide developers and agency staff understand how they can efficiently apply LID within the framework of existing ordinances and building codes.
3. Encourage the construction of green buildings in Snohomish County
using the Built GreenTM and Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (L.E.E.D.) certification programs.
Built GreenTM and L.E.E.D. are industry-sponsored certification programs that present standards for environmentally sustainable construction in the residential and commercial sectors respectively. The Task Force’s goal is to have three (3) new commercial/government projects and thirty (30) residential units either permitted or under construction that meet these standards. The task force will work with builders and developers to initiate such projects.
4. Educate developers and builders about sustainable development
and green building.
The Task Force will provide builders and developers with information about the benefits of sustainable development and green building practices. The goal is to expand their knowledge so that developers and builders are more excited about promoting green projects. The SDTF will facilitate and support developers and builders with innovative sustainable development projects through the permitting process. SDTF will achieve this goal by working key public sector decision makers, speaking at events where developers and builders are the key audience, inviting developers and builders to SDTF events and tours, and including developers’ and builders’ projects as case studies.
5. Educate the real estate community about sustainable development and green building.
The Task Force will educate real estate agents, appraisers, mortgage brokers, and others in the real estate business about the existence and benefits of sustainable development and green building practices and relationships to other industry benefits such as Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM’s). The goal is to make these professionals aware of sustainable buildings, their benefits, and their value. Another goal is to enable these professionals to identify green building techniques. In turn, real estate agents will be able to more adequately promote Built GreenTM homes to the public, appraisers will value green homes more appropriately and mortgage lenders will understand the value of these homes and how to increase a home buyer’s qualifying income through the use of energy efficient homes. SDTF will reach these groups of professionals by speaking at specific real estate-related events, by inviting real estate professionals to SDTF events, and by providing resources such as case studies to these groups.
6. Educate the public about sustainable development and green
building.
The Task Force will educate the general public, who are local citizens and consumers, about the existence and benefits of sustainable development and green building practices. The goal is to expand the public’s knowledge, which will increase both the demand for such projects and the supply of service providers who are knowledgeable and can design and build to these standards. SDTF will implement this goal by holding speaking events, having a kiosk and representatives at local events, reaching out to local media, providing tours, presenting case studies, and partnering with other regional entities that promote green building.
For more information or to join the SDTF, please contract Terri
Hooper
at 425-783-8275 or at tlhooper@snopud.com.
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