The 1st county building to meet this resolution turned out to be an existing building, the Whatcom County Courthouse.

Certification
In March of 2008 it was awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, an award for high-performance, green operational strategies, by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

The courthouse is only the 3rd one in the nation to be certified through LEED in the Existing Buildings category, and only the sixth existing building of any kind to be certified in Washington State.

Energy Efficiency
A major highlight of the project is the energy efficiency of the courthouse. According to measurements through Energy Star, the building is more energy-efficient than 86% of comparable buildings in the United States. The reduction in energy consumption and conservation measures has resulted in a savings of more than $160,000 annually in the courthouse alone.