Buildings & Energy
In Seattle, buildings are one of the largest sources of climate pollution, responsible for 40% our city's greenhouse gas emissions, with over 90% of these emissions resulting from burning fossil fuels like fossil gas for heat, hot water, and appliances. These emissions pollute our air and accelerate climate change, which disproportionately harms Seattle's Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. For our health and resilience in the face of a changing climate, Seattle is committed to eliminating climate pollution and transitioning to 100% clean energy in our buildings and vehicles by 2050.
To do this, Seattle must dramatically reduce fossil fuel use in buildings over the next decades. We must power more of our lives, homes, and buildings with cleaner energy — constructing all-electric new buildings and retrofitting older buildings to phase out higher emissions fuels like gas and oil.
We're committed to "Building Seattle Better". Learn more about this work in the links below.
Energy Benchmarking
Seattle's Benchmarking Program requires owners of nonresidential and multifamily properties (20,000 square feet or larger) to track building performance and annually report to the City of Seattle.
Seattle Energy Code
The Seattle Energy Code ensures new buildings are efficient from the start. Every three years, the City of Seattle updates the energy codes that govern nonresidential commercial and taller multifamily buildings to make them even more effective and move us toward a clean energy future.
Clean Heat Program
Reduce pollution and heating costs when you switch from heating your home with oil to heating with an energy-efficient heat pump that also provides air-conditioning.
Resources and Reports
Resources and reports related to Seattle's buildings and energy programs and policies.
Building Tune-Ups
Tune-ups aim to optimize energy and water performance by identifying low- or no-cost actions related to building operations and maintenance, that generate 10-15% in energy savings, on average.
Building Emissions Performance Standard
Seattle's new Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS) requires most large buildings to reach net-zero emissions between 2041 and 2050.
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City Facilities
The City of Seattle owns and maintains over 650 buildings and has adopted policies addressing new construction and major renovations, as well as day-to-day operations.