Seattle – The Department of Energy (DoE) announced $17.2 million has been awarded to the City of Seattle under the Assistance for the Adoption of the Latest and Zero Building Energy Codes grant. Funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the program is designed to address the climate crisis and create cleaner buildings.
Seattle’s Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) will use the funds to implement the Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS) ordinance, with a focus on supporting buildings in overburdened communities and building an equitable climate workforce. Signed into law by Mayor Harrell in December 2023, BEPS establishes emissions targets for existing nonresidential and multifamily buildings larger than 20,000 square feet and will reduce an estimated 27% of building Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.
“Major investments like this help Seattle make progress on our urgent climate goals while fortifying the city’s green workforce at all levels. When I signed BEPS into law, I made a commitment to support building owners in complying with the policy to create a healthier and more sustainable city for all. This $17 million will go directly toward that commitment,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “Seattle is grateful to the DoE for this award, and to the Biden-Harris Administration for leading with the Inflation Reduction Act – the largest climate investment in history – which includes $1 billion to make buildings across the country more climate resilient through local-level action like BEPS.”
The $17.2 million DoE award will span across nine years (2025-2033) and will:
- Create a BEPS Customer Support Hub. Customer support services will also be provided by sub-awardee, Building Potential (formerly Northwest Energy Efficiency Council) to connect building owners to individualized assistance to reduce emissions and find financial support.
- Help building owners to comply with BEPS. OSE will partner with SEI Climate Corps to fund up to three “Compliance Fellows” annually to support building owners through free initial energy benchmarking verification, GHG emissions reporting, and consultation on compliance pathways.
- Help building owners navigate financing, incentives, tax credits/deductions, and grants that could support their compliance with BEPS. OSE is partnering with Seattle 2030 District, who will hire a Funding Resource Liaison to interface with owners and grow support tools.
- Support facility managers, building operators and service providers become qualified BEPS service providers. Through the Building Operator Certification (BOC) Program (run by Building Potential), the funding will also provide BOC Level II tuition scholarships for approximately ten persons/year.
- Create a new Seattle BEPS Training and Workforce Liaison who will coordinate with workforce and labor partners to assure accurate/compliant BEPS trainings, tools, and messaging are available.
This funding is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s $530 million investment in technical assistance competitive grants available for the adoption and implementation of the latest model energy codes, zero energy codes, building performance standards, and innovative codes that achieve equivalent energy savings to the latest model and zero energy codes.
“OSE is proud to be able to directly support building owners through this funding,” said Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment Director Jessyn Farrell. “This grant will help us provide resources to building owners to help them modernize their buildings, especially multifamily housing and community buildings in Seattle neighborhoods that are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis through extreme heat, pollution, and poor indoor air-quality. We are grateful to Mayor Harrell for his passionate leadership and to the DoE for making this possible.”
OSE expects to roll out these enhanced support programs beginning in late 2025 and 2026. Building owners and operators are also encouraged to check out the Seattle Clean Buildings Accelerator program which provides technical support and funding for upgrades and register for upcoming info sessions.
These DoE investments are the latest in a number of recent federal and state grants the City has received to support climate action and equitable workforce development. In May, Seattle was awarded nearly $3.2M to support residential and small businesses transition from fossil fuels to clean, energy efficient appliances. In July, King County received $50 Million from the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant to help multifamily, small commercial, and community buildings across the region, including Seattle, make capital improvements that reduce energy and climate pollution. And earlier in August, the City announced a $5.2 million FEMA investment to decarbonize and install air conditioning at five libraries.
What Grant Partners Are Saying:
“We are thrilled to be a part of this transformative initiative that will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions in buildings but also expand the skills of our green workforce. Through the Building Operator Certification program, Building Potential aims to empower facility managers and building operators with the knowledge and tools they need to successfully comply with Seattle’s emissions performance targets. Additionally, our role in the BEPS Customer Support Hub will allow us to provide individualized assistance to building owners, helping them navigate the program and connect with resources. OSE’s dual approach of direct support and workforce training underscores our shared commitment to creating sustainable, resilient buildings that benefit all communities, particularly those most impacted by climate change.” – Kerry Meade, Executive Director, Building Potential
“Securing this Department of Energy grant is a tremendous win for Seattle’s multifamily and commercial property owners. These funds will empower building owners with the resources and guidance they need to meet the Building Emissions Performance Standard, ensuring their properties are not only compliant but also more sustainable and resilient. This initiative aligns perfectly with the Seattle 2030 District’s mission to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient practices, and we’re excited to play a role in helping our city reach its ambitious climate goals.” – Daniel Poppe, Executive Director, Seattle 2030 District
“This isn’t just an investment in infrastructure; this is an investment in people. Passionate, diverse, and highly trained Fellows from SEI’s Climate Corps program will be at the forefront of transforming the built environment and working within communities impacted first and worst by climate change. We’re excited and grateful to be supporting these climate resiliency efforts that wouldn’t be possible without the leadership of Mayor Harrell and funding from the U.S. DOE.” – Steve King, Program Director, SEI Inc.