Resources - Smart Buildings Center

Combined RFA supporting CBPS now open

December 4, 2025 By SBC staff

The Clean Buildings Unit is excited to announce a new Request for Applications (RFA) aimed at assisting both public and private building owners in complying with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS). This combined RFA offers four funding sources that can potentially cover the cost associated with some CBPS requirements. The available funding sources are:

Clean Building Performance Grants ($4.8 million)
Energy Audits for Public Buildings ($12.2 million)
Energy Efficiency Retrofit Grants ($10.6 million)
State Project Improvement Grants ($4.8 million)

This combined RFA format provides a single application process for building owners to apply for any or all four programs. The application predominantly requires short and factual responses rather than long narratives, which significantly reduces administrative burden on building owners seeking access to funding set aside for them by the Washington State Legislature.

Access the RFA materials in this Box folder.

Most of the funding for these RFA programs comes from the Climate Commitment Act. This includes all Clean Buildings Performance Grants, all Energy Audits for Public Buildings, and $10 million of the Energy Retrofit Grants. An additional $1 million for Energy Retrofit Grants, along with all State Project Improvement grants, is funded through the state building construction account.

Key dates
Important Note! You may register for both or one Preproposal Conference Date(s), but attendance is not mandatory. All questions must be directed to: [email protected]

Performance period: Through June 30, 2027
Register for Preproposal Conference 1 on Dec.11, 2025, 1-2 p.m.
Register for Preproposal Conference 2 on Jan. 28, 2026, 12-1 p.m.
Applications due: March 4, 2025, at 3 p.m.

Please email [email protected] with questions regarding this RFA or visit the incentive webpage for more information on our CBPS funding programs.

NEEA: LLLC is Transforming Northwest Schools Lighting and Saving Energy!

November 20, 2025 By SBC staff

Lighting consultant Sam Tumminello is transforming school lighting in the Northwest with Luminaire Level Lighting Controls. Teachers can say goodbye to harsh, overhead fluorescents in the classroom — with an upgraded lighting system, they can easily adjust light levels for different activities while also saving energy.

Learn more about Sam’s experience and lighting projects in this Q&A: https://betterbricks.com/resources/betterbricks-industry-voices-sam-tumminello/

#lighting #smartbuildings #energyefficiency

Oregon’s new Oregon Legislature Building Performance Standards (BPS)

November 7, 2025 By SBC staff

Oregon Building Performance Standard (BPS) was established in 2023, by the Oregon Legislature, establishing mandatory Building Performance Standards for large commercial buildings. The Oregon BPS goal is to reduce energy consumption and emissions across the state and apply to Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings based on their size and type for buildings larger than 20,000 square feet. Compliance deadlines begin in 2028, with compliance requirements for Tier 1 buildings and include requirements for benchmarking, Energy Use Intensity (EUI) calculations, and operational improvements.

A Level II Building Operator Certification (BOC) TCOC is recognized as a credential for a Qualified Person under Oregon’s BPS. Individuals with this credential can support building owners with benchmarking, EUI calculations, development of Operations & Maintenance (O&M) programs, and implementation of Energy Management Plans (EMP), aligning with compliance pathways for both Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings.

Oregon’s BOC licensed provider is Northwest Water Energy & Education Institute (NWEEI).

Class Location & Schedule

BOC is currently only online. We have been able to serve a wider population for operators by being virtual. We are confident that we can continue to provide you with the same quality content and instruction that participants have come to know.

The class price is $2495. This will increase in January 2026 and so does the Energy Trust of Oregon’s incentive ($1800). Energy Trust will allow participants to take the Levels back to back. A change that is in response to the new BPS described above.

Please refer to the BOC main website for eligibility for both Level I and Level II. There is other information on their website that is useful to know and refer to. Like the maintenance of your certification and additional certifications. Check it out!!! https://www.theboc.info/certifications/

Upon completion of the program classes, you may be eligible for the incentive from Energy Trust of Oregon. Please refer to the updated information at Energy Trust. https://energytrust.org/commercial/tools-resources/

So get started and sign up for the classes that are coming in 2026. A Level II will start in January and a Level I in May. Additional Level I & II will occur in the summer of 2026 as demand increases. Seats will go fast. More information and registration can be found here. For questions please contact Brenda at [email protected] or Roger at [email protected].

SCL Launches Commercial Strategic Energy Management (CSEM) and Multifamily Strategic Energy Management (MSEM), Register Today!

September 18, 2025 By SBC staff

Seattle City Light is offering a new no-cost program for commercial and multifamily buildings that are larger than 20,000 square feet. The Commercial Strategic Energy Management (CSEM) launches this fall! And Multifamily Strategic Energy Management (MSEM) will launch in early 2026. This coaching and training program will help commercial and multifamily buildings lower their energy consumption, prepare to meet the requirements of the Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard (WA CBPS) and—for buildings within the city limits of Seattle—the Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standard (Seattle BEPS). Here are some of the benefits of participating in this program:

Learn how to lower operating costs and achieve persistent energy saving and emissions reduction.
Get on the path to compliance with both the Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard and Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standard.
Join dynamic quarterly workshops, offering technical and organizational training and the opportunity to share practices and solutions alongside peers.
Work with an energy and climate coach for ongoing support throughout the program – up to two years. This includes:

o One site walkthrough to identify energy-saving opportunities and help prioritizing project implementation.

o Assessments and action plan to support integrating energy into business practices.

o Coordination with the organization’s extended energy team to address specific needs and goals.

The program is free for participants. Your investment is your time spent attending workshops and activities – an investment which should yield energy savings as well as valuable organizational benefits.

Want to learn more about the Seattle City Light SEM program? Join an upcoming 60-minute information session! Register in advance:

Questions? Email: Seattle City Light Energy Advisors, [email protected]

Check Out Our Tool Library Video Tutorials – on the SBC YouTube Channel!

September 10, 2025 By SBC staff

With support from Energy Trust of Oregon, Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy, and Washington State Department of Commerce, the Smart Buildings Center (SBC) provides our Tool Lending Library of energy monitoring and diagnostic tools, a free resource serving the commercial building operations sector in Washington and Oregon. Check out the latest tool videos we’ve added to our Tool Lending Library Tutorials playlist on our YouTube channel, including titles such as:

The tools demonstrated (and many more) are available to borrow free of charge at the Smart Buildings Center website. Follow us on our YouTube Channel for additional video tutorials and other smart buildings content!

BetterBricks: These Northwest Buildings Tell Quite the Story

August 6, 2025 By SBC staff

Our friends at BetterBricks took a look at buildings around the PNW that are leading the way in high-performance tech. Check out their newsletter here for more stories like these.

Now filterable by technology, state, and building type, the BetterBricks library of data-backed case studies has never been easier to navigate. Jump into the library of real-world case studies and expert interviews that demonstrate the proven value of high-performance technologies and solutions.

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