Washington State Department of Ecology

Planning and Design - Construction and Green Building Information

When planning and designing your project consider using Green Building and Low Impact designs, methods, and materials. The advantages of these could result in you saving money and time, as well as reducing the impact on the environment.

Green Building and Sustainable Design

Washington State Department of Ecology’s Green Building website.
Sustainable Schools Protocol from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) was developed for those in the industry that are involved with Washington school's design and construction. This protocol acts as a guideline for developing schools in an environmentally responsible manner.
U.S. Green Building Council is responsible for developing, designing and implementing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards and Certification.
Cascadia Region Green Building Council offers workshops, tours and green building information specifically for Washington, Oregon and British Columbia.
Built Green Washington helps builders connect with green building associations in each county.
Making Green Building Practices Mainstream - Background Information for the Beyond Waste Summary Document.
General Administration Planning and Design Services offers information on green building design and managing construction waste.
Brownfields Resource Guide is available to help developers learn about Brownfield sites and what the State of Washington is doing to promote the re-development of these sites.

Low Impact Development

Puget Sound Action Team (PSAT) Low Impact Development (LID) explains the principles of LID.
Smart Growth Online is a comprehensive look at Smart Growth construction, development, and implementation.

Construction Industry Regulations, Legislation, and Additional Information

The Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Center provides contractors with clear language on environmental regulations that may apply to their projects.
Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC) offers information on the Growth Management Act (GMA) and critical areas.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) educates those interested in home building.
The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences website on construction compliance.
RCRA Online. This site, offered by the Environmental Protection Agency, explains the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and provides a brochure and frequently asked questions.
The Washington State Building Code Council (SBCC) advises the Legislature on building codes used in Washington State.