BENCHMARKING & TUNE-UPS NEWS
 July 2024
(Non-residential and Multifamily Buildings > 20,000 SF)
Benchmarking Enforcement Grace Period Ends September 1st
Congratulations to the 87% of required properties that have attained compliance with Seattle’s benchmarking law. The deadline for submitting reporting year 2023 benchmarking data was June 1st. Property owners who are out of compliance have until September 1st, 2024, to submit an accurate benchmarking report. After that date, Notices of Violation and fines will be issued. Per updates to the benchmarking law made in December 2023, the City will now impose a single comprehensive fine for each violation, rather than quarterly accruing fines. Non-compliance after the end of the grace period will result in a $2,000 fine for properties between 20,000 and 50,000 square feet and a $4,000 fine for properties larger than 50,000 square feet. Please visit the Benchmarking Instructions page for detailed guidance on how to ensure compliance.
Review the Compliance Status of Your Building(s)
Property owners can check their compliance status in the 2023 Benchmarking Compliance Portal by searching the Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) Building ID, property name, or ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® username. The Compliance Portal will continue to be updated three times per week through October 2024. If you need help finding your building’s OSE Building ID, search the Energy Benchmarking Map for your property. Additionally, a list of all non-compliant properties as of 7/19/2024 can be downloaded here.
Not in Compliance with Seattle’s Benchmarking Law?
Beware of Third-Party Benchmarking Communications
Please be advised that communications from soliciting third-party service providers may contain inaccurate information regarding compliance status, deadlines, and Seattle benchmarking program requirements. Official email communications from the City of Seattle regarding benchmarking compliance will be sent via a seattle.gov email address. Notification letters, warning letters, and Notices of Violation sent through the postal service will prominently feature City of Seattle branding and will not ask for your signature.
Example of an official City of Seattle Benchmarking warning letter
(Non-residential Buildings 50,000 SF+)
Changes to the Tune-Up Ordinance
Last December, alongside adoption of the new Building Emissions Performance Standard, changes to the Building Tune-Up Ordinance were approved, including a sunset date of December 31, 2028. All buildings must complete a second tune-up, with no additional tune-up cycles beyond that. Three more changes are important for Tune-Up Specialists to be aware of. First, the LEED O+M Certification will no longer be accepted as an alternative compliance pathway. For more information on that change, see the LEED O+M FAQ. Second, a new alternative compliance pathway was created for buildings that achieve early compliance with the WA State Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS). Third, buildings pursuing one-year extensions due to low occupancy are not eligible if they have 50,000 sq. ft. of leased nonresidential space. See the Extensions and Waivers handout (PDF) and the low occupancy extension FAQ for limitations.
Cohort 2 Building Tune-Ups Due October 1st, 2024
Owners of Cohort 2 buildings (100k – 199k sq ft) must complete their second cycle tune-up by October 1st, 2024. Owners who do not complete the building tune-up assessment, finish all required corrective actions, and submit a tune-up summary report will receive a warning letter. Following the six-month enforcement grace period, OSE will issue a notice of violation and a $2,500 fine if the building remains non-compliant on April 1st, 2025.
(Non-residential and Multifamily Buildings > 20,000 SF)
BEPS Rulemaking Update
OSE is convening a facilitated Technical Rulemaking Workgroup starting this month with subject matter experts to weigh in on options to inform the draft rule and will convene focused topical meetings starting in the fall. Summaries of and slides from meetings will be posted on the new BEPS Rulemaking webpage. Public webinars (dates TBD) summarizing the input and key draft rules will follow later this year and into early 2025. A draft rule for public comment will follow by mid-2025. Visit the website for more info and a detailed timeline that will be updated periodically.
For comments and questions, email cleanbuildings@seattle.gov.
 The Seattle Clean Buildings Accelerator’s Small-Group Coaching Cohorts are Getting a Makeover
This summer, OSE is gathering input from stakeholders to help reshape the Seattle Clean Buildings Accelerator’s coaching cohort approach. To date, six cohorts of building owners and operators, representing more than 40 entities, have completed four-month “sprints” of monthly workshops and one-on-one coaching calls and virtual site visits to help them understand and comply with the State of Washington’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS). As Tier 2 buildings under the state CBPS begin to prepare for upcoming compliance dates and as the City prepares to embark on rulemaking for its new Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS), OSE is revamping the coaching technical assistance of the Accelerator to ensure the program meets the needs of under-resourced owners of the buildings subject to these new rules. Share your thoughts on the Accelerator by taking our brief survey by July 26th!
New cohorts are currently paused while the program redesign is underway, but building owners and operators can access the self-led, online content of the Accelerator at any time. Stay informed about the revamped Accelerator by by signing up for updates.
Register for the Smart Buildings Exchange Conference (8/27-8/29)
The Smart Buildings Exchange is a three-day hybrid virtual and in-person conference hosted by the Smart Buildings Center, August 27th through the 29th. The event aims to connect participants to the latest information and technologies in the smart buildings industry and showcase smart building projects and initiatives across the nation. For more information about the agenda and to register, please visit the Smart Buildings Exchange homepage.
Upcoming Seattle 2030 District Events
The Seattle 2030 District is a membership organization of real estate owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and community partners that bridges the gap between the private and public sector to reduce the environmental impacts of buildings in Seattle. Their 140 members have made the commitment to significantly reduce water and energy use, as well as pollution from stormwater and carbon emissions from transportation by the year 2030. For more information, please visit the Seattle 2030 District Homepage. Register for upcoming events below:
Seattle Recognized by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
Seattle was rated third in the nation in ACEEE’s 2024 City Clean Energy Scorecard. ACEEE’s report scored 75 U.S. cities on their efforts to advance their clean energy goals by improving energy efficiency and moving toward a cleaner electric grid and fuels. Policy areas evaluated include community-wide initiatives, buildings policies, transportation policies, community energy infrastructure, and local government operations.
Energy Benchmarking: EnergyBenchmarking@seattle.gov | 206-727-8484
Building Tune-Ups: BuildingTuneUps@seattle.gov | 206-727-8863
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