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City of Seattle Blog

Got Oil? Now’s the Best Time to Ditch It

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If you’re still heating your home with oil, the City of Seattle is offering an instant rebate up to $2,000 right now through the end of 2018 to switch to an energy-efficient heat pump. Here are several reasons why now is the best time to make the switch:

  1. Heat pumps provide year-round comfort, which includes air-conditioning. And, since you need to heat your home in the winter anyway, why not invest in a system that provides air-conditioning too? No more sleepless nights this summer!
  2. Heating oil is not friendly to the environment. Burning fossil fuels emits carbon pollution which contributes to global warming.  In addition, underground oil tanks leak over time and can contaminate soil and groundwater.
  3. Seattle’s electricity is local and clean. Did you know that Seattle City Light provides carbon neutral electricity?
  4. Heating oil is expensive. Oil prices are volatile and you’re likely to pay a full heating season’s worth of oil all at one time. Heat pumps save about 50% of your heating costs.
  5. The heating season is the busiest season for contractors – by installing a heat pump in the off-season you have more time to get additional bids and to coordinate your project – plus you’ll be well prepared when winter arrives.
  6. Once you have switch to clean electricity to heat and cool your home, you’ll be eligible for Seattle City Light’s insulation and window rebates.

For more information about the City of Seattle’s Oil Conversion Rebate Program visit www.NoMoreOilHeat.com or contact Christine Bunch, Christine.bunch@seattle.gov, 206-615-1633

Seattle is now home to TWO LEED Platinum Fire Stations

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Photo: Nic Lehoux, DJC.com

Seattle’s Seattle Fire Station 32, located in the West Seattle Junction, opened in early November 2017 and was recently been certified by the U.S. Green Building Council as LEED Platinum. This prestigious distinction demonstrates the best-in-class achievement of sustainable design and construction practices for the 21,534 square foot facility.

The old Station 32 (located in the same location), was approximately 40 years old and needed replacement. The building systems were old, and the station offered inadequate space for modern apparatus and staffing levels. The station was also out of regulatory compliance in many areas, and was structurally substandard for seismic survivability.

Given the old station’s condition and the capacity of the station to play a more central role in West Seattle, the Station was completely rebuilt at the existing location. As part of the rebuild, Station 32 received major improvements and became the lead station for Battalion 7, which covers all of West Seattle, southwest Seattle, Harbor Island and the industrial areas lining both sides of the Duwamish River.

The Fire Station 32 project incorporated sustainable features such as solar hot water systems, photovoltaic arrays, green roof, water-efficient landscaping, energy-efficient LED lighting systems, energy-efficient HVAC systems, recycled building material use, low volatile organic compound (VOC) building material use, natural daylighting of common spaces and individual thermal controls of sleeping areas.

The station’s design was led by architectural firm of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, and the station was built by general contractor, Howard S. Wright. With the designation of LEED Platinum, Seattle Fire Station 32 joins Seattle Fire Station 20 (West Queen Anne) as two of the only three fire stations currently in the state with LEED Platinum status.

Seattle announces multiple wins in building energy efficiency

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New website to track building energy use, energy efficiency improvements in City buildings, and new ENERGY STAR ranking

Today the City of Seattle announced three notable achievements that underscore the City’s progress and commitment to reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in Seattle’s largest buildings. Buildings account for 33% of Seattle’s greenhouse gas emissions and Seattle’s ongoing efforts in this area are critical to meeting our climate goal of becoming a carbon neutral city by 2050.

“During this time when our federal government is actively working to block meaningful climate action, staying focused on aggressively pursuing climate solutions is critical,” said Jessica Finn Coven, Director of the Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment. “While we are fortunate to have a carbon neutral electric utility, the key to achieving our building energy climate goals will always be rooted in efficiency. Seattle has been a leader in building energy for years and we will continue to lay down a path for other cities to follow.”

The Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) released details on the energy use in 2016 of over 3,330 commercial and multifamily buildings, including 85 City-owned buildings in a new data visualization website. Collected as part of Seattle’s Energy Benchmarking Program, the information—including annual energy used per square foot, ENERGY STAR scores, and greenhouse gas emissions—is easily understandable and allows people to see how much energy a specific building uses (its “building performance”) as well as compare it to similar buildings. More detailed building performance data for both 2015 and 2016 is available for download through the City of Seattle’s Open Data portal.

Transparent, accessible data about individual buildings are key tools in driving greater awareness about how much energy buildings use which helps create long-term market demand for energy efficient buildings and protects tenant interests.

“Having this data available and accessible is a prime example of where the market is headed,” said Cliff Majersik, Executive Director for the Institute for Market Transformation. “We know building performance, specifically energy efficiency, is becoming more important to prospective tenants and buyers. Seattle’s tool is especially compelling because it reports on greenhouse gas emissions, identifies potential savings opportunities, and allows users to drill down on a specific building, not just a building type.”

As part of the City’s Resource Conservation Program for municipal buildings, the City of Seattle is tracking and reporting energy use on all its buildings 10,000 sq.ft. or larger, as well as all public service facilities—community centers, libraries, fire stations, and police stations—regardless of size. A recent Seattle report shows energy use in City buildings decreased by 3.7% between 2015 and 2016 which brings the total energy reduction for City-owned buildings to 12% since 2008. This places the City on track to achieve its 20% energy reduction by 2020 goal. Seattle recently established a new target of an overall 40 percent energy and carbon emissions reduction by 2025.

“Given that most of the buildings that will shape Seattle in 2050 have already been built, improving the performance of our existing buildings is fundamentally important,” said Fred Podesta, Director of the Seattle Department of Finance and Administrative Services. “By improving as much of our municipal stock as possible, the City is realizing both significant environmental and economic benefits and setting a great example in the community.”

Seattle’s efforts in driving building energy efficiency show results in national rankings. Seattle climbed two spots over 2016 in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the most ENERGY STAR certified buildings. In 2017, 164 Seattle area buildings, representing over 40 million sq. ft. earned the ENERGY STAR. This was a 22% increase over 2016, leading to a 38% increase in cost savings.

To qualify for the ENERGY STAR, a building must earn a 1 – 100 ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher, indicating that it is more energy efficient than 75 percent of similar buildings nationwide. ­Is your building a Certified ENERGY STAR building? Visit  www.seattle.gov/energybenchmarkingmap and look for the ENERGY STAR logo on the building’s report view.

Data Visualizations Website Images for use:
Dashboard Snapshot
Building Pop-Up Snapshot
Energy Use Intensity (EUI) graph

 

 

 

 

Conservation Grant Applications Now Being Accepted!

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The King Conservation District (KCD) – Seattle Community Partnership Grant Program is requesting applications from non-profit organizations and community groups committed to making natural resource improvements and advancing environmental equity. Organizations and groups are encouraged to apply for projects that meet at least one goal of the City of Seattle’s Equity & Environment Agenda and improve Seattle’s natural resources through direct improvements, education and outreach, pilot or demonstration projects, or capacity building.

Letters of Intent (LOI) are due by 5pm on Monday, May 7, 2018. For more information and for application guidelines please visit the KCD website. For any questions, contact Jessica Saavedra at 425.282.1906.

Fresh Bucks use at farmers markets and neighborhood grocers doubled over same time as last year

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More low-income residents are eating healthier as a result of Seattle’s food access program

Residents with low incomes are purchasing more fruits and vegetables at Seattle and King County farmers markets and neighborhood grocery stores —helping them eat healthier and supporting local farmers. Recent data shows that Fresh Bucks sales at farmers markets and grocery stores in the first two months of 2018 increased 163% over last year.

The Fresh Bucks program provides a dollar-for-dollar match of SNAP benefits (food stamp) spent at participating Seattle and King County farmers markets and participating neighborhood grocers. Fresh Bucks has continued to grow in the number of shoppers each year, with more than 68,000 Fresh Bucks transactions since launch in 2012. The Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) administers the Fresh Bucks program in Seattle.

“Fresh Bucks has really been a tremendous asset to our community,” said Sam Kielty, manager of the West Seattle Farmers Market. The farmers love it because it’s bringing new shoppers to our markets and the shoppers love it because it’s such a good value and makes a significant improvement in what they and their families eat.”

A recent survey of Fresh Bucks participants revealed that 61% get at least half of their produce through the Fresh Bucks program and participants generally consumed more fruits and vegetables than average consumers.

Cost is a primary barrier for people with low incomes to eating fresh fruits and vegetables. OSE recently lifted the match limit for Fresh Bucks transactions to increase affordability even further. Previously, shoppers were limited to a $10 per-transaction maximum which allowed shoppers to receive $10 in Fresh Bucks for a total of $20 available to spend per visit. Now, there is no limit as to how much Fresh Bucks a shopper can access to match SNAP benefits when purchasing produce at a farmers market or participating grocer. Fresh Bucks is supported by funding from Seattle’s Sweetened Beverage Tax.

Last year, OSE launched a pilot to make Fresh Bucks available at six Somali- and Latino-owned neighborhood groceries. This expansion has been especially helpful in the winter months, when fewer farmers markets are open. These stores are also open daily, creating convenient options for people to use Fresh Bucks.

With funding from Seattle’s Sweetened Beverage Tax, Seattle will continue to expand Fresh Bucks through greater shopper participation, partnerships with larger grocers, and increased use of Fresh Bucks Rx—where medical providers provide patients with “prescriptions” for fruits and vegetables to be redeemed at participating grocers and farmers markets.

“For those of us who have enough to eat, it’s easy to take for granted our ability to include fresh local produce in our meals,” said Jessica Finn Coven, Director of the Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment. “Fresh Bucks makes it possible for people who are burdened by food insecurity to afford healthy food. Fresh Bucks is an excellent tool to improve health outcomes for Seattle residents while supporting our local economy.”

For more information on Fresh Bucks, visit here. More information on the Sweetened Beverage tax is here.

Unlimited Fresh Bucks Match Now Available

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Many families rely on monthly SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits to help put enough food on the table. However, when people are on a tight food budget, one of the first things that is dropped is fresh fruits and vegetables as they tend to be more expensive than processed food.

To address this challenge, the City of Seattle launched Fresh Bucks in 2012. Since then, shoppers have been able to spend up to $10 in SNAP benefits and receive a $10 match in Fresh Bucks towards their purchase of locally sourced fruits and vegetables at Farmer’s Markets and select retail stores. Fresh Bucks is a solution that helps low-income residents afford healthy foods, diversifies the customer base of farmers markets, and keeps federal food stamp dollars in our regional economy.

The program continues to grow and recently, in response to feedback from Fresh Bucks participants, the City lifted the $10 match limit for Fresh Bucks. Now, shoppers are free to get a match for any amount of SNAP benefits spent purchasing fruits and vegetables.

Sam Kielty, who manages the West Seattle Farmers Market, reports that there has been a noticeable change with shoppers purchasing more fruits and vegetables. At the Farmers Market info booth, shoppers have a chance to share their Fresh Bucks story if they choose. Sam shared a story submitted by “Emily” a single mother who Sam sees often at the West Seattle Farmers Market.

“After my husband died, my car got repossessed and I lost my job. My main worry was being able to afford nutritious food. After receiving SNAP benefits and learning they were accepted at my local farmers market, grocery shopping became a fun and educational outing for my daughter and I. She learns about the farming community. I am assured she’s receiving the freshest food possible.” – Emily

Special thank you to Sam for sharing a great story that highlights the benefits of this great program.

 

What Is the Sweetened Beverage Tax?

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On January 1st, the Sweetened Beverage Tax went into effect in Seattle. The tax rate is 1.75 cents per ounce and is charged directly to distributors. Consumers may or may not see a price increase. Distributors are free to pass or not pass the added cost of the beverage tax on to retailers. Likewise, retailers may or may not pass the cost along to consumers.

Services funded by the proceeds of the beverage tax are intended to expand access to healthy and affordable food, close the food security gap, promote healthy nutrition choices, reduce disparities in social, developmental, and education readiness and learning for children, assist high school graduates to enter college, and expand services for the birth-to-five population and their families. A general fact sheet is here.

As part of the legislation, the Sweetened Beverage Tax Community Advisory Board was established by the City Council to advise and make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on programs and activities supported by the tax revenue.

More information on how the tax is collected is here.

Seattle’s Urban Forest Needs You!

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Do you love trees? Do you want to help Seattle protect its trees and continue to be the Emerald City? Then you should join the Urban Forestry Commission! Volunteering for this Commission is an opportunity to support city government in developing policies that support urban trees.

The Urban Forestry Commission (UFC) was established to advise the Mayor and City Council on policies and regulations to support the protection, management, and conservation of trees and vegetation in Seattle. The UFC is currently recruiting for the following positions: Arborist, Landscape Architect, Public Health, Environmental Equity, and Neighborhood/Community representative.  Applications are due February 28, 2018. For more information visit the UFC website.

Rebate Extended -Up to $2,000 for Oil Heated Homes!

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Building on a successful promotion in 2017, Seattle is extending its Oil Furnace Replacement Program into 2018.  The program encourages homeowners to replace their oil furnace with an energy-efficient electric heat pump.  The City of Seattle has partnered with Gensco, an HVAC distributor to implement the program and to contribute incentive dollars to match those from the City. The program continues through December 31, 2018 or until funds run out.


Why should homeowners make the switch?

  • Homeowner’s can save up to 50% on their heating costs
  • The average oil heated home emits approximately 5 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year; Seattle’s electricity is generated locally and is carbon neutral, so converting fossil fuels to clean electricity is good for our region and our climate
  • Most oil heated homes were built before 1960 and old oil tanks have a higher risk for leaks which impacts soil, water and homeowner health
  • Heat pumps provide consistent and efficient heating and cooling for year-round comfort
  • Once a home has converted to electric heating, homeowners may be eligible for Seattle City Light window and insulation rebates


What are the eligibility requirements?

  • Home is in the city of Seattle and is an existing single-family residence (1-4 units), or townhouse. (Multifamily units and new construction do not qualify.)
  • The current primary heating source for the home is oil heat and the oil furnace is in working condition.
  • Installation must be performed by a participating contractor listed on NoMoreOilHeat.com


How to Participate
Homeowners should visit www.NoMoreOilHeat.com for details and to access the list of participating contractors.  Financing is available from Craft3 and Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union, with a convenient loan repayment option on Seattle City Light electric bills.

If you have additional questions not addressed by the website, please contact Christine Bunch, Christine.bunch@seattle.gov, 206-615-1633.

Results of Seattle Resilience Survey

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As part of our early work in developing the Seattle Resilience Strategy, the Seattle Resilience Team distributed a survey to get a sense of what the community felt were our most pressing challenges as a city. The survey was open for nearly a month and garnered over 1600 responses online. Additional in-language responses were also collected via Seattle’s Community Liaisons who engaged residents who spoke Spanish, Chinese, Somali, Korean and Vietnamese. The top level results were as follows:

  • Over 40% of respondents identified Natural Beauty and Outdoor Recreation Activities as the answer to the question “What do you love most about Seattle?”  Other popular responses to that question were Seattle’s Progressive Values and Vibrant Neighborhoods.
  • Affordability/Income Inequality and Homelessness were the main responses when asked what Seattle’s main challenges today are, with 80% and 57% of participants respectively. Transportation infrastructure and racial inequity were also frequent responses.
  • When thinking about the future, participants viewed environmental concerns (climate change, sea level rise, natural disasters, and disaster preparedness) and how Seattle will respond to growth (gentrification, housing, infrastructure) as future challenges.
  • Non-profit organizations and friends and family are who participants often turn to when experiencing hard times. Resources that would be helpful that are not currently available to participants are community connections, financial or job assistance, and access to mental health care.

Thanks to all who participated in the survey. The Seattle Resilience work continues to move forward. We’ll be posting updates on the Resilient Seattle website and there will be more opportunities to get engaged in this work in early 2018.