CAPSTONE A NET-ZERO COMMUNITY: A RESOURCE MANUAL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC POLICY Submitted by Kaylee Galloway School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts in Policy Studies University of Washington Bothell Bothell, Washington August 2018 Advisor: Martha Groom Co-Advisor: Bruce Kochis TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................... vi ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 2 NET-ZERO DEFINITION ........................................................................................................... 3 FRAMEWORKS ........................................................................................................................... 4 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ................................................... 4 International Living Future Institute (ILFI) .......................................................................... 6 Living Building Challenge ................................................................................................. 6 Living Community Challenge ............................................................................................ 7 Zero Energy Certification ................................................................................................... 7 Zero Carbon Certification .................................................................................................... 8 Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS) ..................................................................................... 8 Built Green ................................................................................................................................ 9 Net Zero Energy Building (Net ZEB) .................................................................................... 10 EcoDistricts .............................................................................................................................. 11 ACHIEVING NET ZERO: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT METHODS ..................... 13 Architectural and Engineering Design .................................................................................. 13 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency ............................................................................ 14 SMART Technology ................................................................................................................ 19 Carbon Offsets and Sequestration ......................................................................................... 20 Land Use and City Planning ................................................................................................... 23 BUILDING A CONCEPTUAL MODEL: COMMUNITY COMPONENTS ...................... 24 i Homes and Buildings ............................................................................................................... 24 Energy Production and Grid Management .......................................................................... 26 Waste and Water Treatment .................................................................................................. 30 Transportation and Infrastructure ........................................................................................ 31 Broadband ................................................................................................................................ 37 Sustainable Agriculture .......................................................................................................... 38 EXAMPLES OF EFFORTS IN WASHINGTON STATE ...................................................... 40 Community Organizations and Programs ............................................................................ 40 WSU Energy Program ....................................................................................................... 41 Climate Solutions .............................................................................................................. 41 Shift Zero ........................................................................................................................... 43 Sustainable Connections .................................................................................................... 44 The Bullitt Foundation ...................................................................................................... 45 Capitol Hill Housing .......................................................................................................... 46 Private Sector: Business and Industry .................................................................................. 47 2020 Engineering ............................................................................................................... 47 Renewable Energy Manufacturers .................................................................................... 48 Janicki Bioenergy .............................................................................................................. 49 Microsoft .......................................................................................................................... 49 Puget Sound Energy .......................................................................................................... 50 Sustainable Community Developments ................................................................................. 52 The Bullitt Center .............................................................................................................. 52 Greenfire Campus ............................................................................................................. 53 ii zHome ................................................................................................................................ 54 TC Legend Homes ............................................................................................................. 55 Cedarwood ................................................................................................................ 55 Power House ............................................................................................................. 56 Zero Net Energy Tiny House (ZeNETH) .......................................................................... 57 Port Townsend EcoVillage ................................................................................................ 57 Bellingham Organics ......................................................................................................... 58 POLICY OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................ 59 Local Government ................................................................................................................... 60 Bellingham, WA ............................................................................................................... 61 Climate Protection Action Plan ................................................................................. 61 Incentives, Municipal Codes and Enforcements ....................................................... 64 Seattle, WA ....................................................................................................................... 66 Seattle Climate Action Plan ....................................................................................... 66 Incentives, Municipal Codes and Enforcements ....................................................... 69 Environmental Protection Agency Resource for Local Governments ............................. 73 Washington State Government ............................................................................................. 74 Clean Air ........................................................................................................................... 74 Clean Cities .............................................................................................................. 74 Clean Air Agencies ................................................................................................... 75 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ....................................................................................... 76 Energy ................................................................................................................................ 77 Energy Independence Act ......................................................................................... 77 iii Renewable Energy Sales and Use Tax Exemptions ................................................... 78 Renewable Energy System Cost Recovery Incentive ................................................. 78 Net Metering .............................................................................................................. 79 Clean Energy Fund .................................................................................................... 80 Homes and Buildings ........................................................................................................ 82 Energy Efficiency and Solar Grants .......................................................................... 82 High-Performance