Dear friend of Green Buildings Now,

We are writing to update you on progress toward creation of an extreme-weather cooling center in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle. Your support of this effort through Green Buildings Now has made a difference, and we are grateful.

The all-volunteer Green Buildings Now initiative began in early 2021 with the goal of promoting environmental justice by bringing the benefits of clean energy to a diverse community that has suffered disproportionately from noise and air pollution from nearby airports, roads and industries.

At the request of a coalition of nonprofit organizations, we embraced and worked hard in support of the community vision of a resilience hub on the campus of Bethany United Church of Christ where neighbors could find safety during extreme weather events. That vision is now described as a cooling center.

Here’s what we have accomplished together.

In 2022, grant funds were used to install an extensive solar power array on the roofs of the two largest buildings on the Bethany UCC campus, along with battery backup. The sanctuary building was weatherized using funds donated through Green Buildings Now.

This fall, most of the remaining Green Buildings Now funds were used to fully weatherize all four buildings on the campus and to replace a gas furnace with heat pumps in one building.

We expected that, through a partnership with the City of Seattle, the campus would be fully decarbonized by now. The Seattle City Council included a $455,000 appropriation for this purpose in the 2023 city budget. It was our expectation that the $147,000 raised by Green Buildings Now would be supplemented with the city appropriation. However, the Church Board of Bethany was troubled by contract language for release of the city funds — in particular a restrictive covenant — and decided the church could not accept the appropriation.

Bethany’s board and pastor, the Rev. Angela Ying, still intend to create a cooling center, which will take more time and fundraising. They are also working with the Beacon Hill Council, El Centro de la Raza and other community groups to establish three cooling centers in Beacon Hill.

Thanks to you and other generous donors, Green Buildings Now exceeded our fundraising goal and helped lay the groundwork for a future cooling center. The improvements to the Bethany campus will also significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions — one of our key goals.

Members of the Green Buildings Now leadership team remain committed to climate justice, and a number of us have asked our Beacon Hill partners to let us know how we can help their efforts going forward. However, Green Buildings Now has accomplished what it set out to do, and leadership team members are moving on to the next phase of life. We thank all those who have been part of this community “barn-building,” with special thanks to Seattle First Baptist Church, University Unitarian Church, the Treeline Foundation, the Loyal Bigelow and Jedediah Dewey Foundation, Seattle Insight Meditation Society, the Nelda Swiggett Quintet, Paul Finley, Prospect United Church of Christ, and University Congregational UCC.

Bethany UCC still needs support for the future cooling center. If you would like to explore ways you might volunteer your time and talents, please email keithervin@greenbuildingsnow.org. Donations to Bethany’s cooling center fund can be made online here or with a check to Seattle First Baptist Church (Memo: Green Buildings Now), Attn: Darren Hochstedler, 1111 Harvard Ave., Seattle, WA 98122. Donations are tax-deductible.

With deep gratitude,

Lindsey Engh

Cindy Ervin

Keith Ervin

Nora Langan

Carol Nelson

The Rev. Meighan Pritchard

Dave Ramsay

Linda Zaugg

The Green Buildings Now leadership team