The pilot program allows applicants to request additional departures from the Seattle Land Use Code through Design Review. They provide height and floor area incentives for buildings in exchange for meeting high-performance green building requirements. Developers that are constructing new buildings or building additions that meet the program standards can get up to 25 percent more floor area, up to 30 percent more floor area if saving an unreinforced masonry structure. Also, the program provides height bonuses of 12.5 feet of additional height for residential construction or 15 feet of additional height for non-residential construction in zones with height limits of 85 feet or less; or 25 feet of additional height for residential construction or 30 feet of additional height for non-residential construction in zones with height limits greater than 85. Finally, the program allows additional design departures for the pilot programs as specified in SMC 23.41.012D.
2008 Indoor Graywater Reuse Policies in Oregon*
Oregon created a permit pathway for using graywater to flush toilets and urinals in 2008, becoming the tenth US state to do so. To date less than a half dozen projects in the State (at least one residential, one institutional, and two food coops) have utilized this alternative method and most of them have uninstalled the systems. Treating and storing graywater to meet the high quality standard required is often cost-prohibitive. Several large-scale projects like Hassalo on Eighth and OHSU’s Collaborative Health Building have found it more cost effective to treat all combined wastewater (aka gray- and blackwater) for reuse together.
2011 Outdoor Graywater Reuse Policies in Oregon*
In 2011, Oregon created a permit pathway for reusing graywater to water landscapes in commercial and residential projects. There are three tiers to the permits,based on the level of treatment needed for final end use of the graywater. To date twenty-six tier 1 permits have been granted and one tier 2. The rules establish treatment and monitoring requirements, setbacks, access and exposure controls, site management practices and an annual renewal fee.
2005 ASTM Standard E2392 for Earthen Wall Systems*
This consensus standard was developed by an international task group to serve both U.S. and international needs for sound technical guidance for earthen wall systems, incorporating sustainable building and development goals, and including affordability and use by people of all economic circumstances. It has improved both building safety and recognition of the value of earthen construction internationally.