Green Central: Green Guides and Features

Green Central

Green Guides and Features

Electric cars and semi-autonomous buildings

The case for electric cars and semi-autonomous buildings

Electric vehicles linked with residential towers can provide benefits through “peak load leveling.” The electric car battery can be charged at night, when electric system demand is low and base-load generating facilities have available capacity. Then, these batteries can transfer power back to the grid when electric system demand is high enough to otherwise require peak generating facilities.
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Sustainable workforce housing

Sustainable workforce housing

Sustainable workforce housing are high-quality residential towers targeted for renters earning 80- to 120-percent of the average wage in the region.
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Water Conservation Potential

Energy and Water Conservation Potential

We have the technology today to achieve net zero energy and water use and consumption. We have the tools right now to use existing technologies to improve functionality of new green development.
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Barriers to Innovation Rainwater Harvesting

Sheparding an innovation through a utility can be a challenge. As discussed below, a number of obstacles will be encountered and a number of strategies must be employed in order to be successful. These obstacles are not bad in and of themselves. They often represent rational and understandable resistance to making change – especially when the proposed innovation offers more uncertainty or risk.
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Sustainable Infrastructure in Seattle: Leveraging Capital for Sustainable Outcomes

Cities are going to have to adapt if we are going to address the game-changing issues of climate change, urban growth, and spiralling infrastructure costs. Just doing more of more-of-the-same is not going to get us out of this situation. It is time to step back and reassess how we conduct our business, what tools we employ, and thoughtfully consider next steps.
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Design for Social Sustainability at Seattle's Central Library

As a culture we hold dear social values such as public good, health and well-being, quality of life, diversity, and equity. The focus of this article is how Seattle’s Central Library, a Silver LEED™ project, integrates social benefit into its design. While LEED provides credit opportunities for some social issues, many are not addressed by the LEED System.
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