BENCHMARKING UPDATES
Congratulations Seattle! 96% Benchmarking Compliance
OSE is pleased to announce that more than 96% of required property owners have achieved compliance with the City’s benchmarking law for the 2024 reporting year. The deadline for reporting 2024 energy and emissions data was June 1, 2025, and the three-month enforcement grace period has now concluded.
Notices of Violation and Fines Issued
Property owners who failed to submit complete and accurate benchmarking reports to the City by Sept. 15 are now in violation. OSE has issued Notices of Violation (NOVs) with fines via certified mail to the building owner of record and their Registered Agent.
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$2000 penalty — buildings between 20,000 and 50,000 square feet
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$4000 penalty — buildings larger than 50,000 square feet
NOV recipients must respond to violations within 30 days by either submitting an appeal online at seattle.gov/energybenchmarkingappeal or paying the fine. If you own multiple non-compliant properties that received NOVs, you must submit a separate appeal for each property. Property owners who submit an appeal and bring their property into compliance within 30 days of receiving the Notice of Violation will have all fines mitigated.
Please note that properties which achieve benchmarking compliance after Sept. 15, 2025, but fail to submit an appeal or pay fines, have not resolved their violation. Check the benchmarking compliance portal to confirm your property’s reporting year 2024 compliance status. The OSE Director will conduct administrative review of submitted appeals and issue determinations to all appellants.
SEATTLE BEPS UPDATES
Building Emissions Navigator Coaching Cohorts Launching Soon
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).
Two cohort options are still available this fall, including:
- Virtual, for multifamily buildings: 5 monthly workshops, beginning Oct. 22
- In-person, for all building types (nonresidential and multifamily): 1.5-day, in-person workshop, week of Oct. 27
To learn more, please register and attend a virtual info session on Oct. 1 or Oct. 7; or watch a recorded info session and then email cleanbuildings@seattle.gov to request an enrollment form. Attending an info session is required prior to enrolling in a training cohort.
Featured BEPS FAQ
Will newly constructed buildings or buildings under construction need to comply with BEPS?
A newly constructed building may receive an extension from all BEPS requirements for one compliance interval. Building owners must provide evidence of new construction in the form of a Certificate of Occupancy dated no more than three years before the building’s compliance date and a construction permit issued by the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI). The BEPS Director’s Rule (currently in draft form) addressed the details and processes for extensions, and OSE will develop a short form to apply, likely similar to what is already required for Building Tune-Ups.
Find more answers on our FAQs page.
New Case Study — Seattle Aquarium Decarbonization
OSE recently published a case study on the planned decarbonization of the Seattle Aquarium. The Aquarium’s unique buildings and critical conservation mission make decarbonization a challenge, one that the Aquarium is taking head on. Read the case study to learn about the innovative decarbonization strategy the Aquarium is pursuing.
City of Seattle Makes a Splash with Energy-Saving Upgrades to Public Pools
Indoor pools use significant energy to heat, ventilate, and control humidity in the building for safe swimming conditions, and nearly every pool burns climate-polluting gas to warm water. Seattle Parks and Recreation and our team at OSE are doing things differently, using a mix of trusted and innovative clean energy solutions to dramatically increase energy efficiency. Learn more about the renovations on OSE’s Greenspace blog.
Lighting Design Lab Webinars
Seattle City Light’s Lighting Design Lab regularly hosts informative webinars that educate building owners on how to make improvements to their buildings that will improve comfort and reduce energy use and emissions. In October, the Lab is hosting two webinars:
Keep an eye on the Lab’s website for future webinars.
Smart Buildings Exchange
11/5, hosted by the Smart Buildings Center ($65 registration fee)
Join the Smart Buildings Center for the 2025 Smart Buildings Exchange (SBX) to be held in downtown Seattle on Nov. 5, 2025! The conference theme, “Smart Buildings in Action: Leading the Future of Building Performance,” reflects our region’s growing leadership in reimagining the role of buildings — not just as energy users, but as dynamic assets that influence everything from grid interaction and occupant well-being to cost management, security, and building resilience. For those navigating the evolving demands of building ownership, operations, and energy management, SBX 2025 offers a space to explore practical solutions while also engaging with the bold ideas shaping the future.
Flipping the Switch — Helping Schools Achieve Clean Energy Goals
10/8, hosted by the New Buildings Institute
Join a dynamic virtual workshop brought to you by Southern California Edison and led by New Buildings Institute, highlighting real stories from school districts leading the way in electrification.
Hear firsthand how schools are transforming their campuses with electric kitchens, EV buses, and clean energy infrastructure. During these two sessions, district presenters will share lessons learned, funding strategies, and tangible impacts on student health and learning. The session will include dedicated time for Q&A and peer connection to support your own electrification journey.
Register for the workshop here.
Seattle City Light Trade Ally Meet & Greet
11/13, hosted by Seattle City Light
City Light’s Trade Ally program aims to provide designers, contractors, and installers with incentives, clear communication, relevant training, and effective tools to successfully complete energy projects. As part of this program, City Light is hosting a Trade Ally Meet & Greet at the Smart Buildings Center on Thursday, Nov. 13. Come take advantage of this opportunity to connect with fellow trade allies, OSE staff, City Light's incentive Program Managers, and other key experts!
Register for the Meet & Greet here.
Heat Pump Water Heater Installer Training Day
10/22, hosted by the Pipe Trades Training Center, UA Local 393
The Pipe Trades Training Center, UA Local 393, in partnership with the Advanced Water Heating Initiative (AWHI) and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Energy Centers, is hosting a full-day Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) Installer Training Day. This first-of-its-kind event will bring advanced HPWH training to contractors, apprentices, and plumbing professionals across the country.
Register for the HPWH training here.
Commercial and Multifamily Strategic Energy Management Program Info Sessions
10/6, hosted by Seattle City Light
Seattle City Light is offering a new no-cost program for commercial and multifamily buildings that are larger than 20,000 square feet. The Commercial Strategic Energy Management (CSEM) launches this fall! And Multifamily Strategic Energy Management (MSEM) will launch in early 2026. This coaching and training program will help commercial and multifamily buildings lower their energy consumption, prepare to meet the requirements of the Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard (WA CBPS) and — for buildings within the city limits of Seattle — the Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standard (Seattle BEPS).
Learn more and register for the Seattle City Light info sessions here.
Energy Benchmarking: EnergyBenchmarking@seattle.gov | 206-727-8484
Building Tune-Ups: BuildingTuneUps@seattle.gov | 206-727-8863
Building Emissions Performance Standard: CleanBuildings@seattle.gov
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