What we did in 2004:

Business Education: We hosted four green building workshops/site visits that were attended by more than 100 prominent industry professionals. Workshop topics included: Low Impact Development - Street Edge Alternatives, Integrated Design, Market Based Approaches to Sustainable Design, and a site visit to White Rock, BC.

We also sponsored the first ever Built Green Conference in Whatcom County in partnership with the local chapter of the Building Industry Association. In addition, by facilitating the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) training of 16 professionals, we quintupled the number of LEED Accredited professionals in Whatcom County! In 2005 we will open a a green building assistance center to help local businesses and organizations build green, and find grant funding to help cover design and development costs.

Market Development: We continued our community promotion and green building education in 2004, including hosting our second annual 'Imagine This! Home & Landscape Tour' in July. The tour drew significant media attention and doubled attendance to 450!  We also worked with the Department of Ecology, Whatcom Community Foundation, City of Bellingham, and dozens of businesses in the building and landscaping industries to develop a local resource guide of eco-friendly and community building service providers.

Government Education: We worked with local governments to host a two day seminar on BuiltGreen, LEED, and Incorporating Green Building/Low Impact Development into Policy in December.  The seminars were targeted at government staff (Public Works, Planning, Building Services, etc.) and elected officials.  One goal of the seminars was to enlist the support of staff members in developing a Green Building Policy and tools to assist the private sector. More than 50 staff members attended, and this quote by an attendee from the Port of Bellingham was echoed many times, "Thank you for putting on the Green Building Workshops. With all the building going on in Whatcom County now, each building not Green- or LEED- built is an opportunity lost - to our discredit as citizens of this county!"  In 2005, we will be working closely with the City and County on a detailed Green Building Policy that includes incentives for the private sector. We also anticipate LEED Resolutions passing for new public buildings in Bellingham and in Whatcom County in 2005.