The Seattle Clean Buildings Accelerator is recruiting for a new Light Coaching Cohort starting in May 2023! All City Light customers are eligible. Join an online info session on April 20 (register here) or May 2 (register here) to learn how this free program helps facility managers and owners get their commercial buildings (larger than 50,000 sq. ft.) on track for meeting the WA Clean Buildings energy standards and reducing emissions. More info or email [email protected].
Tier 2 Rulemaking Kick-Off Webinar April 13th 10:30AM – 12PM
On March 25, 2022, Governor Inslee signed the Clean Buildings expansion bill into law. The expansion applies to buildings between 20,000-50,000 square feet, adding a new second tier that includes multifamily buildings. The first phase of this law is not a performance standard. It will require reporting on benchmarking, energy management plans and operations and maintenance programs for Tier 2 buildings.
Reporting for this new tier is expected to begin July 1, 2027. The expansion bill also included an incentive program with an additional $150 million available for Tier 2 buildings at a rate of .30 cents per square foot. The new law requires Commerce to complete rulemaking by December 1, 2023.
Commerce will host a series of workshops to establish rules, reporting requirements, and the incentive program for Tier 2 buildings. The kick-off meeting will be a pre-rulemaking webinar, introducing the Clean Buildings Expansion and rulemaking basics.
We hope you can join us during our upcoming stakeholder engagement sessions. Commerce is hosting a Pre-Rulemaking Webinar: Introduction to the Clean Buildings Expansion on April 13, 2023, from 10:30am to 12:00pm PT. Please register in advance to receive a calendar reminder or save the meeting information below.
Register for the Pre-Rulemaking Webinar
Meeting ID: 858 2192 0472
Passcode: 183331
Future workshop schedules will be announced via the Clean Buildings Bulletin and the Commerce webpage.
Register for Mar 23 11-12, Clean Buildings General Question and Answer Session
Clean Buildings News!
Commerce is hosting a Clean Buildings General Question and Answer Session on March 23, 2023, from 11:00am to 12:00pm PT.
Please register in advance and submit questions via the online registration form.
Register online for the March 23, 2023 QA Session
If you cannot make the session, feel free to reach out to Smart Buildings Center’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard Technical Assistance Helpdesk.
We offer support to building owners, managers, and facility personnel responsible for their building’s compliance with the Washington State Clean Buildings Performance Standard.
The utility-sponsored helpdesk offers:
- Free one-on-one coaching during office hours via phone, virtual meetings, and email.
- A resource webpage including training videos.
- A searchable table for Qualified Persons and Qualified Energy Auditors.
- FAQs
For more information and to schedule a consultation, please visit https://smartbuildingscenter.org/resources/clean-buildings-performance-standard/
Thank you to our sponsors!
Estimating Your Building’s Emissions and Draft Targets for Proposed Seattle BEPS, Thursday Mar 23 12-1
Registration is open for March 23: Estimating Your Building’s Emissions and Draft Targets for the Proposed Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standards (BEPS)
Are you new to understanding your building’s greenhouse gas emissions and want to learn some simple steps to understand your building’s climate impact? Join the Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) on this beginner-friendly webinar on Zoom to learn how to quickly estimate and track your building’s current greenhouse gas emissions and estimated proposed targets. Learn more and REGISTER HERE. For details on the proposed BEPS policy, visit www.seattle.gov/building-performance-standards or contact [email protected].
Translation services are available upon request. Call (206) 233-7184 or email [email protected].
About the Proposed Policy: Performance standards are a powerful tool to reduce climate pollution and transition toward cleaner, healthier buildings where we live and work. The proposed BEPS policy is projected to reduce emissions from Seattle’s buildings (in total) 27% by 2050. This proposed policy would gradually phase out carbon pollution from existing nonresidential and multifamily buildings over 20,000 sq. ft. through mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets beginning 2027 for the largest nonresidential buildings. Targets would become more stringent over time, to net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. Visit www.seattle.gov/building-performance-standards for more information.
Washington CBPS Early Adopter Incentive Program Live Q&A, Feb 22nd
Need help applying for the Washington State Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS) Early Adopter Incentives? Commerce can help! Funding is still available for the Early Adopter Incentive Program.
The program offers payments to eligible building owners to encourage compliance with the CBPS before the required date. Incentive payments are calculated at $.85 per gross square foot.
Live Q&A session – Wednesday, February 22nd | 11 am PST
Commerce is hosting a live question and answer session on February 22nd from 11 am – noon. The Clean Buildings Team and Energy Star Portfolio Manager staff will be available to answer questions about the application process and how to benchmark your building.
Register for the Q&A session
Learn more on the Clean Buildings webpage
Webinar: A National Retailer’s Decarbonization Journey with BrainBox AI
Thursday, February 23rd | 12 pm EST
70% of American consumers have said they would adjust their shopping habits if they knew that a store wasn’t operating sustainably.
With over 200 stores coast to coast, see how Sleep Country director of ESG Mary de Guzman is making their brick-and-mortar operations greener. She joins Rebecca Handfield, VP of Marketing & PR at BrainBox AI, to discuss their project together and the development of a successful ESG strategy.
Reserve your seat for the live webinar!
