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Washington State Building Standards Compliance

General Contractors

Washington State is at the forefront of building performance standards.

Washington State Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS)

Established by law in 2019 and requiring compliance starting 2026, Washington’s Clean Buildings performance standard requires energy benchmarking, sets annual energy use budgets, and requires proactive energy management practices for buildings over 20,000 square feet.

Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS)

Seattle’s Building Emissions Performance Standard sets performance requirements based on greenhouse gas emissions rather than energy consumption. It lays out a schedule of progressively more stringent targets starting in 2031 and culminating in net zero emissions by 2041-2050 depending on building type. Compliance requirements start in 2027 with verification of annual emissions and initial plan to meet future targets.

Typical CBPS Support Services:

  • Energy Benchmarking, in accordance with State requirements.
  • Advising on compliance requirements and options.
  • Mandatory Document Preparation: Energy Management Plans, Operation & Maintenance Programs, and compliance forms.
  • Funding Support.
  • Facility energy reduction assessments, and audits.
  • Building tune-ups and commissioning.
  • Energy Manager Support.

Additional Seattle BEPS Services:

  • Greenhouse Gas Benchmarking verification by Qualified Person.
  • Greenhouse Gas Reports.
  • Decarbonization and Electrification Planning.

Our Approach

  • Tailored to owner’s staff capacity and facility specifics. We meet you where you’re at and extend your team.
  • Independent, practical expertise.
  • Leverage your building’s operational data to streamline compliance, prioritize efficiency opportunities, and monitor performance.
  • Local expertise and national best practices.

Qualifications

With decades of experience improving efficiency and performance of buildings across Washington State, our staff have all the qualifications necessary to serve in required roles for CBPS and BEPS compliance: Qualified Persons, Qualified Energy Auditors, Energy Managers, Certified Commissioning Professionals, and Professional Engineers.

Related Services

  • Seattle Tune-Ups Ordinance
  • Cost Estimating and Lifecycle Cost Analysis
  • HVAC and plumbing upgrade engineering

Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Requirements for Tier 1 and Tier 2 Buildings

Operations and Maintenance (O&M) is an important component of compliance for both Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings.

Understanding the current requirements and maintaining proper documentation can help ensure your compliance application is complete and ready for approval.

Our team can help you navigate the latest O&M requirements and prepare the documentation needed to demonstrate compliance. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

  • Tier 1 buildings are no longer required to provide proof of O&M Program implementation 12 months prior to the compliance reporting date.
  • Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings must provide documentation demonstrating O&M Program implementation by the compliance reporting date or the date the compliance application is submitted, whichever comes first.
  • Acceptable proof of O&M implementation may include:
    • Completed preventive maintenance logs.
    • Screenshots from computer-automated systems are used to track preventive maintenance tasks.
    • Signed service contracts demonstrate that preventive maintenance has been contracted to a qualified third party.
    • Other documentation demonstrates the completion of required preventive maintenance activities.

Need Help With O&M Compliance?

Preparing the right documentation is an important part of a successful compliance submission. If you have questions about O&M requirements or need assistance documenting your building’s preventive maintenance activities

Contact Scott Usselman

Tier 1 Early Adopter Incentive: The Clock Is Ticking

The deadline to take advantage of the Tier 1 Early Adopter Incentive Program is approaching—and for some building owners, the opportunity is already gone. The application deadlines for Tier 1 buildings larger than 90,000 square feet and 220,000 square feet have already passed. For buildings between 50,001 and 90,000 square feet, the next deadline is June 1, 2027.

After June 1, 2027, the Tier 1 Early Adopter Incentive application window will close, making it important for eligible building owners to act now.

What Could You Receive?
Eligible buildings may qualify for an incentive of:

  • $2.00 per square foot, plus
  • $0.05 per kBtu of energy savings achieved beyond the minimum 15 EUI requirement.

For qualifying buildings, these incentives can provide meaningful financial support to help offset the costs associated with energy audits, energy-efficiency improvements, CBPS compliance upgrades, and other related projects.

Don’t Leave Incentive Dollars on the Table

If you own or manage a Tier 1 building between 50,001 and 90,000 square feet, now is the time to determine whether your building qualifies and begin preparing your application. Our team can help you understand the requirements, evaluate your building’s eligibility, and navigate the compliance process from start to finish

Contact Scott Usselman