King County honored with 'Built Green' advocate award

Executive Ron Sims accepts award from Master Builders Association

The region's environment and the construction industry are both healthier, thanks to King County Executive Ron Sims' leadership to ensure more homes, business and government buildings are built using environmentally sound practices.

Sims was presented with the first-ever Built Green Hammer Award for Public Advocacy from the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish counties at the association's Built Green Conference, today in Seattle.

"I am accepting this award on behalf of all King County employees for their work in promoting the principles of green building," Sims said to attendees at the sold-out event, which is the Pacific Northwest's premiere green-building conference.

Sam Anderson, executive officer of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish counties, said Sims' personal beliefs and support have provided the leadership in King County that has allowed the green-building industry to flourish here.

"I am proud of the leadership role King County has taken in promoting the use of environmentally friendly building practices in our public works projects," Sims said.

"Because we are asking others to build responsibly, it is only fitting that King County lead by example – to demonstrate our commitment to this type of sustainable development," he said.

Sims said a number of King County's buildings have been "built green," including the Kent Pullen Regional Communications and Emergency Coordination Center in Renton, and the King Street Center in Seattle.

"And next month, we're officially breaking ground on the Brightwater Treatment plant, one of the largest such projects in the nation, and one that will feature an impressive list of ‘built-green' features," he said.

Sims said sustainable building practices play an important role in the fight against global warming.

"We reduce the need to cut down living trees every time salvaged or remanufactured wood is used in a construction project," he said. "Those living trees keep streams cool for fish and wildlife, they consume greenhouse gases while generating oxygen."

Three King County employees received individual awards at the conference. Theresa Koppang, Katie Spataro and Patti Southard were recognized with the association's "Built Green Pioneer" awards for their work in developing and maintaining King County's Built Green Program.

More information about King County's Green Building Program is available at http://www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/greenbuilding/index.asp.