SEATTLE BEPS UPDATES
Submit Your Comment on the Draft BEPS Director’s Rule by July 7
OSE is hosting a three-week public comment period through July 7 at 5 p.m. PT to solicit input on the draft BEPS Director’s Rule.
When commenting, please include the page number(s) and the section(s) you are commenting on. You can submit your comment in the following ways:
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Using OSE’s online form (preferred)
- Emailing cleanbuildings@seattle.gov (please include “BEPS Public Comment” in the subject line)
- Writing to the Director, Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment, PO Box 94729, Seattle, WA 98124, postmarked no later than July 7, 2025
Want to learn more about the draft Rule? Check out the recorded webinars that OSE hosted about the Rule before the start of the comment period.
In addition, as part of its ongoing compliance with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), OSE posted an Addendum to the DNS on the Seattle Land Use Information Bulletin (LUIB) on 6/30. Comments specific to the DNS addendum can be submitted per the instructions in the LUIB notice and will be accepted through July 14.
OSE Releases Municipal Buildings Decarbonization Plan
The Municipal Buildings Decarbonization Plan aims to improve energy efficiency and eliminate fossil fuels from all City-owned buildings by 2042, bringing the City into compliance with BEPS. Implementing the plan would reduce emissions from City-owned buildings by about 90%.
The Plan covers 176 City buildings that had fossil fuel systems as of June 30, 2024, and prioritizes cost-effective upgrades to building equipment that is at the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced anyways.
Learn more about the impact of the Municipal Buildings Decarbonization Plan.
Featured BEPS FAQ
Can I use RECs or offsets, or retire carbon credits to meet the building’s GHGI targets?
No. While building owners may choose to install solar or other renewables on-site to generate electricity for reasons like resilience or for net-metering, using renewables for electric power to meet a covered building's BEPS compliance obligation as an “offset” or renewable energy credit (REC) is not allowed per the BEPS ordinance. This also includes renewable thermal certificates, carbon offsets, and renewable energy certificates.
In Seattle, our electric supply via City Light is very low emissions as it is generated from about 90% renewables like hydropower. Furthermore, City Light buys offsets for its emissions which are registered through various third-party organizations. Learn more on City Light’s website. Also, City Light has an obligation via a State law (Clean Energy Transformation Act) to be entirely powered by renewables by 2045. For that reason, once a Seattle building uses electricity alone it will be considered compliant with BEPS as long as the data is verified through Benchmarking Verification.
Find more answers on our FAQs page.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Applications Due July 10: 2025 Building Decarbonization Grants
Don't miss out! OSE is taking applications and may award up to about $4 million in grants to help affordable housing providers, nonprofits, and buildings serving frontline communities reduce emissions from their buildings to help them meet the future BEPS targets. Eligible buildings must be greater than 20,000 square feet.
Applications are due by July 10. Learn more about the grants on OSE’s Greenspace Blog or jump right to the application details. If you have questions, email cleanbuildings@seattle.gov.
City Light Increases Energy Efficiency Incentives
City Light increased energy efficiency incentives by 10% on average, adding $0.03 per kWh saved for project applications submitted after May 15, 2025. This applies to lighting retrofits, HVAC and envelope upgrades, and process equipment improvements. An additional $75 per fixture is available for LED installations with Luminaire Level Lighting Controls (LLLC). LLLC-equipped fixtures offer easy customization of facility lighting, enhancing productivity and reducing operating costs. For details, contact SCL_EnergyAdvisor@seattle.gov, visit City Light's Commercial Retrofit Incentives website, or review their updated list of frequently used energy conservation incentives.
With bonus rebates extended, households can save up to $8,000 when transitioning from heating oil to heat pumps
Heating oil is the least efficient, most expensive, and most polluting form of home heating in Seattle. With heating oil prices at an all-time high and generous incentives to finance the project, there’s never been a better time to switch to an energy-efficient heat pump. Heat pumps can save you more than 50% on your annual heating costs compared to oil, and they provide air-conditioning, making them a great solution for year-round comfort.
Through the Seattle Clean Heat Program, households can save up to $8,000 by stacking Seattle’s $2,000 base instant rebate for households of any income, a $4,000 bonus rebate for moderate-income households, as well as a $2,000 federal tax credit. Bonus rebates are available through May 2027 or until funds run out, whichever comes first. Learn more about the program and the households that have used it to make the switch.
EVENTS
 Plan for Fall: Learn about our Navigator Coaching Cohorts this Summer
Attend an info session in July or August
Building Emissions Navigator coaching cohorts are our free technical support program for owners and managers of buildings larger than 20,000 square feet that help you understand and get ready for BEPS and see how it intersects with the Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard (WA CBPS).
Three cohort options are available this fall, including:
- Virtual, nonresidential buildings: 4 monthly workshops, beginning Sept. 10
- Virtual, multifamily buildings: 5 monthly workshops, beginning Sept. 17
- In-person, for all building types (nonresidential and multifamily): 1.5-day, in-person workshop, week of Oct. 27
To register for a fall cohort, you must first attend a short Info Session this July or August or watch a recorded version. Reach out to cleanbuildings@seattle.gov if you have questions.
Lighting Design Lab Webinars
Recorded
The Lighting Design Lab has many recorded webinars that explore and demystify building decarbonization. Check out a sample below:
Decarbonizing Commercial Kitchens: Electric Appliances for Maximum Energy Efficiency
Recorded, hosted by the New Buildings Institute
As a growing number of restaurants and industrial kitchens embrace electric equipment, the appliance industry is likewise shifting to expand its efficient electric inventory. Check out this interactive webinar centered around two different kitchen types, full-service and small-institutional, including candid chef-led discussion around the pathway towards full electrification. Learn about the current landscape of the commercial kitchen electrification movement and gain the knowledge and resources necessary for energy-effective kitchen decarbonization.
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