Who Is Zero?
On Jan. 1, the uber-green Bullitt Center started going for Living Building certification. It needs 365 continuous days at net-zero energy and water. So far, so good. (We busted our New Year's resolution on Jan. 2, so this is quite impressive.)
Bullitt Foundation CEO Denis Hayes says that the building not only uses a lot less energy that a to-code conventional building of the same size—147,260 kWh for the year vs. more than 593,000 kWh–-but the building also generates more than 252,000 kWh using the solar panels on its hat. It doesn't take any energy from the grid; in fact, it adds to it. Seattle’s cloudy and the building could still do that; other cities should be embarrassed if they don’t, Denis says.
By the way, did you remember Earth Day yesterday? It's not clear whether that's Earth's birthday or anniversary, but either way, get it a card. (Printed on recycled paper.) The 85% occupied Bullitt Center celebrated its first birthday yesterday, too.
On the topic of green, the GSA is consolidating federal agencies to promote efficiency and lower the government’s carbon footprint. It’s identified 19 of its properties across the country for consolidation, which the agency says will save $17M in annual rent payments and reduce annual leasing costs by more than $38M. In Seattle, the focus of the consolidation will be Bank of America Fifth Ave and the Jackson Federal Building (pictured).
