Issaquah, WA becomes first LEED Gold City in Washington State

I recently had the opportunity to visit the City of Issaquah , WA (pop. 40,000) as they celebrated being the first city in the state to achieve Gold in the #LEED for Cities rating system. Issaquah lies just 30 minutes to the west of #Seattle in King County, WA and is marked by the beautiful Sammamish Plateau and what’s known as the Issaquah Alps. City staff led me to the top of Poo Poo Point during my trip, a popular launching off point for hang gliders.

Issaquah is known as the Trailhead City and more than 93% of residents live within a ? mile walk to a park or open space. I ventured out of my hotel to a trail across Interstate 90 that led me to Lake Sammamish State Park where I met up with the winding Issaquah Creek Trail. Before I realized it, I had walked 7 miles that evening passing cyclists, joggers, outdoor enthusiasts, and families just out on a stroll like me.

Residents of Issaquah have supported resource conservation for decades, in part tied to the importance of restoring forests and functional fish habitat. Salmon recovery and the salmon cycle are at the heart of the city’s deeply held stewardship ethic. Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH) offer educational tours, curriculum, and events that bring the community together on advocacy.

Leadership on sustainability and climate action defines the work of the past decade in Issaquah. The city is a founding member of the King County-Cities Climate Collaboration (K4C) and recently formed the Eastside Climate Partnership with the cities of Bellevue, Kirkland, Mercer Island and Redmond to increase the impact of climate initiatives. The city’s own Climate Action Plan was adopted in 2021 and includes targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions and resilience. They include:

• Reduce emissions 50% by 2030, 75% by 2040 and 95% by 2050 (and reach carbon neutrality)
• Increase community green spaces and tree canopy cover to 55% by 2035
• Divert 70% of waste from landfills by 2030 and 90% by 2050
• By 2030, increase non-drive-alone mode share by 15% and decrease vehicle miles traveled by 20%
• Transition to cleaner energy and use less energy overall, including: by 2025, source 100% renewable energy in municipal buildings; by 2030, reduce energy use by 25% in new and existing buildings community wide and achieve net zero emissions in new buildings; and reduce fossil fuel use in existing buildings by 20% by 2030 and 80% by 2050

Issaquah’s #climate targets are ambitious, but the city has committed to measure and manage their performance through LEED for Cities’ third party verified certification program. We applaud the city’s commitment to transparency and accountability and look forward to supporting them on their journey.

One thing that struck me during my visit to Issaquah was the community’s connectedness. There is a strong sense of community, of civic pride and a commitment to working together. From reviewing their certification application, I knew that residents love living in Issaquah and raising their children there. But meeting the Issaquah Hall of Famers, being present for the Friendship Day proclamation and recognition of teens for their Sister Cities art projects, and attending four separate community events to celebrate their LEED for Cities recognition really sealed the deal. This city can and will come together to reach their goals, however big and ambitious. They give back and care about something bigger than themselves. They care about the future of Issaquah.

If you work with or for a city interested in accelerating progress on sustainability and climate action, look to Issaquah for leadership. Their Mayor and Council is well-engaged on the issues, they have a progressive and thoughtful City Administrator Wally Bobkiewicz , and their Sustainability Manager Stacy Vynne McKinstry and Office are top notch.

Congratulations City of Issaquah! U.S. Green Building Council

Resources:

Issaquah’s LEED for Cities announcement

Issaquah’s Office of Sustainability

King 5 Channel News segment about the City’s efforts