Seattle's Green Factor
In 2006, the City of Seattle, WA became the first U.S. city to implement a green area ratio (GAR) which was dubbed the Seattle Green Factor (SGF). GARs were first developed in Europe in the late 1970s to early 1980s, and are state-enforced building codes and philosophies which aim to promote ecological architectural development.[1] This is accomplished through zoning, codes and regulations which require developers to integrate various design features that aid in stormwater capture and create green infrastructure.[2] Modeling after Berlin's GAR, the Biotope Area Factor, the City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development revisited their 2006 Comprehensive Plan and developed the Seattle Green Factor. In 2009, the SGF was expanded upon in a design project led by city planners Dave LaClergue and Steve Moddemeyer; the goal of the new SGF code was to combat sprawl and promote mitigation for the increasing densification of Seattle after the 2006 plan, while also improving livability, ecosystem services, and adaptability to climate change within the city.[3] Increased density within the city had created incentive for planners to better manage stormwater runoff, as impervious surface cover facilitated the movement of contaminated rainwater into estuaries, reservoirs and homes, as well as contributed to the overflow of sewage systems.[4]
The City of Seattle describes the SGF as "a score-based code requirement that increases the amount of and improves the quality of landscaping in new development."[5] The code functions by requiring development projects to attain a minimum SGF score in order to attain a permit. Scores are determined by zoning in accordance with standards which are distinctly applicable to commercial and residential properties – developers have a range of landscaping options to choose from in order to earn points, including green roofs, rain gardens, vegetated walls, permeable paving, native landscaping, etc. The integration of these options reduces impervious surface cover across Seattle, and in turn aids in stormwater capture and flood prevention. Whichever options are implemented in a project are then quantified and divided by the total parcel area in order to determine a rough estimate of the total percentage of landscaped area on a site. Additionally, specific weights are added to points during the tallying process; weights are determined by a landscape feature's aesthetic quality and habitat functionality. In Seattle, the minimum SGF score required to obtain a permit is variable across different affected zones.
The Seattle Green Factor was awarded the 2010 Honor Award by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) for its promotion of collaboration among urban developers, better and more attractive streetscapes, and the range of ecological benefits (i.e. stormwater capture preventing flooding of contaminated water, carbon sequestration, etc.) provided by various forms of green infrastructure. Additionally, the SGF has been used as a blueprint for similar urban sustainability models around the country, including the Cool Factor Rating System developed by planners in Cambridge, MA who are seeking to combat the urban heat island effect.
Although the SGF has generated much enthusiasm and praise for its versatility and effectiveness, green factors have been met with criticism for various reasons. Critiques include the SGF's lack of influence on existing areas and the fact that it only has the capacity to affect developing spaces, lack of enforcement and monitoring of codes, and the fact that green factors cannot be enforced on public lands. The SGF has also not remained consistent since its implementation in 2009 – in 2019, amendments to Seattle's Land Use Code make green building mandatory when projects exceed floor area thresholds for their zones, which is a diversion from the original SGF green building requirements.[6] Inconsistencies in SGF policies can produce issues regarding public support of the land use codes, as well as diminishing the effectiveness of the landscape strategies meant to promote social and ecological sustainability.
References
- ↑ Ariluoma, Mari (March 2, 2016). "What is Green Factor? Site-scale solutions for stormwater management" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Seattle Green Factor". Developing Urban Resilience. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
- ↑ "ASLA 2010 Professional Awards | Seattle Green Factor". www.asla.org. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
- ↑ "Green Stormwater Infrastructure - Utilities | seattle.gov". www.seattle.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
- ↑ "Seattle Green Factor - SDCI | seattle.gov". www.seattle.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
- ↑ "Changes to Requirements for Green Building". buildingconnections.seattle.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
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