On August 16, Seattle Housing Authority Executive Director Rod Brandon welcomed Senator Patty Murray to Hinoki, SHA’s newest residential building at Yesler. The occasion was a media event where Senator Murray announced that President Biden had signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act recently passed by Congress. The bill is considered the most important legislation in U.S. history to address climate change. It also represents a big step in reducing prescription drug costs for seniors and others.

“We are grateful to Senator Murray in so many ways for her support of housing and services for people with low incomes,” said Brandon. “Her work to make sure low-income communities are included in greater healthcare and environmental justice is a tremendous help to our ability to foster healthy communities, build and maintain affordable housing, pass along utility savings to families and contribute to the essential task of tackling climate change.”

Senator Murray chose Hinoki as the location for her announcement because of SHA’s commitment to environmental stewardship and because Hinoki is a good example of the importance of funding environmental features in the construction of affordable housing, something the Inflation Reduction Act will do.

Earlier this year, SHA became one of only two housing authorities in the country to sign on to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Climate Challenge. SHA has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent and energy consumption by 15 percent by 2032.

Among the numerous environmentally positive features at Hinoki is a 52-kilowatt rooftop solar installation that generates renewable energy for Seattle City Light’s renewable energy purchasing program. The metering credits received from Seattle City Light help lower the operating costs of the building. Bio-cell planters line the building along the east and west, diverting rainwater from the roof from the sewer system and into an advanced filtering system where it is reabsorbed into the ground. And all units are equipped with Energy Recovery Ventilation, which provides continuous fresh filtered air to the units through an energy-saving heat exchange system and reduces electrical bills for tenants.

Last year, SHA partnered with the City of Seattle to make Bayview Tower in downtown Seattle a national test site for advanced heat pump technology that cuts carbon emissions and energy use.

Senator Murray and Rod Brandon were joined at the August 16 press event by Seattle City Light CEO Debra Smith, Port of Seattle Commissioner Toshiko Grace Hasegawa and Port of Tacoma Commissioner Don Meyer.