K4C

City of Bellevue Environmental Stewardship by the Numbers

Emission Reductions

Within Bellevue, we are starting to see the uptake of renewable technology, such as solar photovoltaic (PV), and a transition to Electric Vehicles. Bi-monthly home energy usage reports reaped savings per household of $38 each, collectively reducing energy use by close to 2250 metric tons of CO2e. PSE's Green Power purchase program, an optional program (wherein customers can purchase solar, wind, or renewable energy on their bill) is a large contributor to carbon emission reductions thus far. Bellevue's tree canopy is a critical source of emission reductions, as each year trees sequester carbon through natural processes (take in CO2 and emit oxygen). Additionally, each tree stores a quantifiable amount of carbon, that if burned or decomposed would be emitted to the atmosphere. In total, that value is hundreds of thousands of metric tons.

Total emission reductions from environmental stewardship

Recycling is by far the largest emissions reductions that the city tracks. These savings come from the emissions avoided from manufacturing with virgin products. Emissions avoided from composting account for the methane not put into the atmosphere from landfilling organic waste. Puget Sound Energy is also a critical partner in reducing community emissions. The chart to the right shows the emission reductions due to renewable energy installations in Bellevue, Green Power purchasing, behavioral changes due to Home Energy reports, and the city's public electric vehicle charging stations.

Emissions Avoided from Recycling and Composting (2018)

Emissions Avoided from Various Sustainability Programs (2015)

Solar and wind projects in Bellevue

Renewable projects installed in Bellevue include solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind. The number of projects completed per year have dramatically increased from only one project installed in 2002 to 93 installed in 2014-- largely as a result of a successful "Solarize Bellevue" campaign. At the end of 2017, the total number of solar projects installed was 287. The majority of these projects are residential. Bellevue has also grown purchases of green power in Bellevue over the years. Green power is represented as a negative emission reduction in the chart below since green power avoids the normal regional grid emissions per kWh and are counted as Renewable Energy Credits. Green power is defined as renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal, to a name a few. In 2016 alone a reduction of 16,400 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions was due to green power purchasing.

Number of Renewable Energy Systems Installed

A picture of the 20 kW solar array on the Bellevue Service Center