Image courtesy of King County A farmer spreads Loop biosolids on his crops in Boulder Park, Douglas County.

Passive House finds a permanent home in the Northwest
More local developers and builders have been adopting the energy-efficient standards.

By JOE GIAMPIETRO
NK Architects

Being green is not just about checking boxes
Contractors must recognize environmental challenges and opportunities before the project begins.

By STACY SMEDLEY
Skanska USA

Preserving Seattle’s largest forest takes a group effort
Last year, Nature Consortium engaged over 3,100 volunteers and installed over 6,200 native plants in the West Duwamish Greenbelt.

By MONICA THOMAS
Nature Consortium

Carbon-rich tidal wetlands down, but not out

An immense amount of stored coastal carbon has been eliminated over the last 100 years. We need to protect the tidal wetlands we have and find ways to rebuild old ones.

By DANIELLE L. DEVIER
Environmental Science Associates

Is hard water drowning Eastern Washington’s economy?
Growers in Eastern Washington face a tricky dance when it comes to wastewater regulations.

By CINDY EASTERSON
Landau Associates

Tackling toxics with green chemistry
The emerging field of green chemistry is all about building safer products and designing cleaner manufacturing methods.

By KEN ZARKER
Department of Ecology

Lower Duwamish: watershed management poster child?
Businesses along the waterway may be affected by changing water quality standards and stormwater runoff rules.

By NATHAN HARDEBECK
SoundEarth Strategies

How biosolids can curb greenhouse gases
King County’s Loop, a fertilizer substitute made from poop, deposits some carbon in the soil but also makes plants grow larger, which takes more carbon out of the atmosphere through photosynthesis.

By PAM ELARDO
King County Wastewater Treatment Division

Time to jump on contaminated urban properties?
Although development within a city core runs the risk of encountering large pockets of contamination, obtaining a Property-Specific NFA letter can significantly reduce investment risk.

By MATT WHEATON
Terracon Consultants

Old mining pond becomes new salmon habitat
Billy’s Pond in Yakima was naturalized to mimic abandoned channels and pools of the Yakima River. It now provides off-channel refuge, rearing and foraging habitats for salmon.

By SHERRIE DUNCAN
Ridolfi Inc.

Local firms invent modules to protect Louisiana coast
The modules are one of three devices being tested to control waves.

By GRANT JANSEN
Jansen Inc.

These modular classrooms are not old school
The Smart Academic Green Environments classroom uses up to 50 percent less energy than a typical modular classroom and has a 60-year lifespan.

By PATRICK ALLEN
Pacific Mobile Structures