Get Free Technical Support with
Building Emissions & Energy Performance Standards
About the Seattle Clean Buildings Accelerator
Offered by the City of Seattle’s Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE), the Seattle Clean Buildings Accelerator is a free technical support and training program for building owners and managers to meet the requirements of the Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standard (Seattle BEPS) and the State of Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard (WA CBPS) laws. Program offerings include virtual and in-person group training, virtual drop-in hours, emissions reduction planning for select cohort members, and online resources for all audiences. Learn more about group training opportunities and how to sign up on our Get Support page.
Why Reduce Building Emissions and Energy Consumption?
According to WA State Commerce (PDF) and the 2022 Seattle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, buildings are the second highest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state and in the City of Seattle. These emissions pollute our air, accelerate climate change, harm people's health and the environment, and disproportionately impact communities of color and people with lower incomes. Seattle BEPS and WA CBPS aim to lower operating costs and reduce pollution from fossil fuels by reducing energy emissions consumption, while also creating safe and healthy buildings and communities.
About the Building Performance Standards
Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standard
The Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standard (Seattle BEPS) was passed in 2023, and its first reporting deadline is 2027. Compliance deadlines are based on the size of the building, with the largest buildings needing to comply first. Seattle BEPS includes Benchmarking Verification and a Greenhouse Gas Report, and sets emissions targets for existing nonresidential (commercial) and multifamily buildings larger than 20,000 square feet. Seattle BEPS is administered by the City of Seattle’s Office of Sustainability and Environment. Read more on the Seattle BEPS website.
Washington State Clean Buildings Performance Standard
The Washington State Clean Buildings Performance Standard (WA CBPS) was passed in 2019, and its first compliance deadline is 2026. Compliance deadlines are based on the size of the building, with the largest buildings needing to comply first. The WA CBPS includes benchmarking and documentation requirements for nonresidential/commercial and multifamily buildings larger than 20,000 square feet, as well as energy performance targets for nonresidential/commercial buildings larger than 50,000 square feet. WA CBPS is administered by the WA State Department of Commerce. Learn more on Commerce’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard website.
Comparing Seattle BEPS to WA CBPS
What buildings are required to comply with Seattle BEPS and WA CBPS?
Both laws apply to nonresidential/commercial and multifamily buildings over 20,000 square feet*. Compliance deadlines are based on building size, with the largest buildings’ deadlines first.
What are the requirements for Seattle BEPS and WA CBPS?
Both laws require reporting every five years, starting with a building’s first compliance deadline.
Seattle BEPS requires all covered buildings to have their existing energy/emissions benchmarking data verified by a Qualified Person, complete and update a greenhouse gas (GHG) report, and meet GHG emissions performance targets.
WA CBPS requires all covered buildings to benchmark energy data and develop and implement an Energy Management Plan (EMP) and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Program. Only nonresidential/commercial buildings larger than 50,000 square feet must also meet energy performance targets.
What is the performance target for my building?
Both laws have targets based on a building’s activity type(s), which are the main activities that occur in that building (e.g. offices, food service, multifamily, etc.).
Seattle BEPS measures greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) and the city has developed GHGI targets (GHGIT).
WA CBPS measures energy use intensity (EUI) and the WA Department of Commerce has developed EUI targets (EUIt).
Learn more about calculating EUI, GHGI and targets on our Resources page.
When is my compliance deadline?
Both laws have compliance deadlines based on a building’s size and repeat in five-year reporting cycles.
Seattle BEPS requires the largest buildings to verify existing benchmarking data and submit a GHG Report starting in 2027-2030, and to meet the building’s first emissions performance targets by 2031-2035, depending on building size. Review the full compliance schedule in the Seattle BEPS FAQ.
WA CBPS requires the largest buildings to meet energy performance targets and submit benchmarking data, an Energy Management Plan, and an Operations & Maintenance Program starting in June 2026. All nonresidential/commercial buildings between 20,000-50,000 square feet and multifamily buildings larger than 20,000 square feet* must submit benchmarking and documentation by July 2027 but are not required to meet performance targets at that time. Review the full compliance schedule on the WA CBPS website.
*Most residential condos and co-ops are excluded from WA CBPS but not from Seattle BEPS; read the Seattle BEPS FAQ for more information.
Get Support to Prepare for Compliance
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Coaching & Training
Virtual and in-person group training provides a learning experience, where participants learn from coaches, engineers, and their peers. Participants receive hands-on technical support to prepare for compliance, have access to virtual drop-in hours, and some select cohort participants are eligible for additional emissions reductions support from the program.
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Online Resources
Online resources on this website provide self-led learning that includes pre-recorded webinars, common energy and carbon reduction opportunities, checklists, templates, videos, and examples for how to identify targets, energy efficiency and emissions reduction opportunities.
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Funding & Incentives
Check out our curated library of funding and finance resources available to support your path to compliance and your emissions reduction efforts.