HVAC Breaking News

May 8, 2014: Seattle’s Bullitt Center Exceeds Energy Saving Goals in First Year of Operation

It Used 75 Percent Less Energy Than a New Building That Meets Seattle’s Energy Code

SEATTLE — Upon its first birthday, the Bullitt Center in Seattle announced that it has significantly exceeded its energy performance goals, even when accounting for growing occupancy over its first 12 months of operation.

The Bullitt Center used 75 percent less energy than a new building that meets Seattle’s energy code. The building used 147,260 kWh of electricity compared to a baseline of 593,891 kWh for a similar building built to code (Source: Seattle City Light). During the same period, the Bullitt Center generated 252,560 kWh of renewable energy from the solar panels on its roof.

“After seeing how the Bullitt Center performed in its first year, I’m certain we will be net positive energy, not just net zero,” said Denis Hayes, CEO of the Bullitt Foundation. “If we can do this in cloudy Seattle, owners in other cities should be embarrassed if they don’t achieve zero net energy.”

Other highlights from the first year of operation include:

• 85 percent of the Bullitt Center is leased and occupied by tenants, with very positive feedback about the experience of working in the building.

• World Architecture News named the Bullitt Center the world’s greenest building.

• Engineering News-Record named the Bullitt Center the most important building of 2013.

Owned by the Bullitt Foundation, the building is now pursuing Living Building certification. To achieve this, the Bullitt Center has to demonstrate 365 continuous days of net zero energy and water performance.

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