Join us for the Smart Buildings Exchange 2026!

Smart Buildings Center

Energy Efficiency Innovation Center, Tool Library & Data Visualization

Understanding the WA Clean Buildings Standard

By

The Clean Buildings Standard is one measure Washington State is taking to improve building operational efficiency. Propelling buildings to targeted energy use intensity by building type and size, all commercial buildings over 50,000 sf will need to comply by 2028 (220,000 sf by 2026), and then maintain compliance or be subject to penalties.

UMC, Hargis Engineers, and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Council (NEEC) have joined forces to break down the Clean Buildings Standard’s  options and implications so you can define a path forward that aligns with your portfolio. [AIA CEU HSW 1.5 Credit]

More information on the presentation

REGISTER

Webinar: Meeting Water & Energy-Saving Goals in King County

By

Sustainable Energy Solutions & Innovative Financing Options

January 25, 2022
10:00 – 11:00 AM PT
REGISTER

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Council and Smart Buildings Center invite King County building owners, managers, financers, and decision makers to attend and hear from King County, Seattle Public Utilities, and Seattle City Light representatives about sustainable energy solutions and innovative financing options to help you meet your water and energy-saving goals.

Webinar speakers and topics will include:

Morgan Torres, Executive Climate and Energy Program Manager – Office of the King County Executive
King County will share its new innovative financing program, C-PACER, explaining how it can be used to invest in efficiency and resiliency measures to make buildings safer, more efficient, and less expensive to operate.

Natasha Bailey, Commercial Water Conservation Program Manager – Saving Water Partnership
The Saving Water Partnership is an organization comprised of 19 water utilities in King and Snohomish counties. We offer tips, tools, and rebates to help people preserve our region’s water for future generations.

Erika Kinno, Resource Recovery Research & Policy Project Manager – King County Wastewater Treatment Division
King County makes its sewer pipes available to private commercial property owners to use as a heat energy source for buildings. Sewer heat recovery can help lower energy costs, save water, and boost renewable energy use. The C-PACER program and Saving Water Partnership rebates are great opportunities that could support the use of this technology.

Register to join us on January 25th!

Upcoming Lighting Design Lab Courses

By

Commercial HPWH: Engineering Deep Dive Part 1
Tue, Jan 11 | 10am-noon | FREE
DAY 1 of 2. This course provides a foundation for implementing commercial heat pump water heater systems in multifamily settings.
REGISTER

Commercial HPWH: Engineering Deep Dive Part 2
Tue, Jan 18 | 10am-noon | FREE
DAY 2 of 2. This course provides a foundation for implementing commercial heat pump water heater systems in multifamily settings.
REGISTER

Tools for Modeling the 2018 SEC and WSEC
Thu, Jan 20 | 10am-11:30am | FREE
This course highlights the energy modeling requirements for Seattle and Washington State 2018 energy code compliance as well as ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G – the new modeling standard.
REGISTER

Commercial HPWH: Design, Operations & Maintenance Deep Dive Part 1
Tue, Jan 25 | 10am-noon | FREE
DAY 1 of 4. Energy efficient commercial HPWH systems for the multifamily and commercial sector are gaining traction. This session dives deep into the science, technology, design and implementation of successful CHPWH systems.
REGISTER

Commercial HPWH: Design, Operations & Maintenance Deep Dive Part 2
Tue, Feb 01 | 10am-noon | FREE
DAY 2 of 4. Energy efficient commercial HPWH systems for the multifamily and commercial sector are gaining traction. This session dives deep into the science, technology, design and implementation of successful CHPWH systems.
REGISTER

Commercial HPWH: Design, Operations & Maintenance Deep Dive Part 3
Tue, Feb 08 | 10am-noon | FREE
DAY 3 of 4. Energy efficient commercial HPWH systems for the multifamily and commercial sector are gaining traction. This session dives deep into the science, technology, design and implementation of successful CHPWH systems.
REGISTER

Commercial HPWH: Design, Operations & Maintenance Deep Dive Part 4
Tue, Feb 15 | 10am-noon | FREE
DAY 4 of 4. Energy efficient commercial HPWH systems for the multifamily and commercial sector are gaining traction. This session dives deep into the science, technology, design and implementation of successful CHPWH systems.
REGISTER

Introduction to Central Systems for Heat Pump Water Heating (Part 1): The Whys and Hows of Heat Pump Water Heater Systems for Multifamily and Commercial Applications
Tue, Feb 22 | 10am-11am | FREE
DAY 1 of 2. This course will explore the policy drivers that are pushing the integration of central heat pump water heating systems and highlight the economic, energy, and environmental advantages of heat pump water heater systems for commercial and multifamily projects. It will also discuss successful projects and case studies, while outlining which applications have the best opportunities for success.
REGISTER

Introduction to Central Systems for Heat Pump Water Heating (Part 2): How to Select and Design a Heat Pump Water Heater System in Your Next Multifamily or Commercial Project
Tue, Mar 01 | 10am-11am | FREE
DAY 2 of 2. This course provides an overview of key central system design considerations. It explores the different system components, including next generation refrigerants, and gives an update on the status and evolution of available plug-n-play commercial equipment. Lastly, it walks through the Ecosizer tool available to properly size central heat pump systems.
REGISTER

Rebuilding as a Community in K-12 Schools: COVID and Beyond

By

Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2-3pm
Register

In this interactive webinar sponsored by Puget Sound Energy and hosted by Smart Buildings Center, panelists with expertise in Strategic Energy Management (SEM) in K-12 schools will discuss their lessons learned in navigating the challenges of operating their buildings safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. They’ll also share insights for moving forward with a re-focus on energy efficiency, in light of the challenges presented by climate change and resulting mandates such as the WA Clean Buildings Performance Standard (H.B. 1257).

Panelists:
Marina Tanay, Capital Projects/Facilities Manager, Sumner-Bonney Lake School District No. 320
Michael Knaack, Sustainability Manager, Tacoma Public Schools
Travis Bown, Director of Maintenance, Mead Public Schools
David McCaughey, Sr. Business Developer, Energy Services, UMC

Register in advance for this webinar.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

LIGHTFAIRÂŽ International Post-Show Webinar, Nov 9th

By

LIGHTFAIRÂŽ International is the industry event where everyone–from huge conglomerates to small tech-firm startups–come to display innovative new ideas that are changing how we illuminate and connect to the world around us.

Following LIGHTFAIR® 2021, the Lighting Design Lab and Smart Buildings Center are partnering to bring you post-conference analysis and information exchange! Bring us your questions and be ready to share your own experiences. Favorite new products? Most exciting trends? Let’s “nerd out”!

The Lab’s focus at LIGHTFAIRÂŽ includes networked and luminaire level lighting controls, non-energy benefits, integration to other building systems, or systems that connect utilities and their customers; and other hot topics like lighting and health and identifying market barriers/education needs. If any major lighting industry news is revealed, we’ll also look to cover it.

Register Here!

Building Decarbonization and the Future of Washington State

By

 – Register

Join the Puget Sound ASHRAE Government Affairs Committee and Washington Society of Professional Engineers for a panel discussion on decarbonization in Washington State. What comes to mind when you think about the word “decarbonization”? Most might immediately picture the electric vehicle and the transportation sector. But what about the sector that leads the U.S. in carbon emissions? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2019, commercial and residential buildings led the U.S. in carbon emissions, making up 31% of total emissions which tops the transportation sector that accounts for 29% of total emissions. Buildings account for a majority of carbon emissions and building decarbonization is critical to slowing down climate change. In this panel, you’ll learn about how Washington state has become a leader in building decarbonization and about ASHRAE’s efforts in decarbonization through the ASHRAE Task Force for Building Decarbonization.

Contact Us

Smart Buildings Center
Pacific Tower
1200 12th Ave. S., Suite 110
Seattle, WA 98144

206-538-0832

[email protected]

Smart Buildings Center is a project collaboration with Building Potential