Self-Led Education Portal: Emissions Reduction
GETTING STARTED | ENERGY MANAGEMENT PLAN | OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE | ENERGY REPORTING & TARGETS | EMISSIONS REDUCTION
Buildings are one of the largest and fastest-growing sources of Seattle’s climate emissions. Through a range of strategies, such as energy efficiency and asset upgrades, owners can reduce their building’s emissions. Learn more below about how to reduce building emissions and Seattle’s Buildings Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS).
Emissions Reduction: Improving Building Performance & Efficiency
Why Reduce Building Emissions?
In Seattle, buildings are one of the largest sources of climate pollution.
Buildings are responsible for more than a third of Seattle’s greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more about Seattle's emissions here. These emissions pollute the air, accelerate climate change, and harm people's health and the environment, disproportionately impacting communities of color and people with lower incomes. Continuing to power our buildings with dirty fuels is an issue of climate justice.
The City of Seattle is leading by example by transitioning its City-owned buildings to net-zero emissions by 2035.
The City of Seattle has set ambitious goals to reduce climate emissions.
The City’s goal is to reduce climate emissions 40% by 2030 and to be net-zero carbon by 2050. To do this, we must power more of our lives and buildings with cleaner energy sources and adopt energy efficiency measures. Learn more about the City’s Clean Buildings goals here and new Buildings Emissions Performance Standard here.
Hundreds of leading businesses and institutions in Seattle, from Amazon to University of Washington have their own climate pledges and goals. While reducing emissions in buildings, as opposed to buying offsets elsewhere, can be challenging, doing so aligns with a shared understanding that bold action must be taken now to avert climate catastrophe.
What is Building Decarbonization?
Sometimes emissions reduction is referred to as “building decarbonization,” which refers to methods that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to buildings. About 90% of Seattle’s building-related emissions come from burning higher-emissions fossil fuels like gas and oil for hot water, space heating, and appliances.
The metric used to measure GHG emissions at the building level is kilograms (kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), which is calculated using the total building consumption of each energy fuel type multiplied by the fuel type’s emissions factor. Greenhouse gas intensity or “GHGI” is measured as kg CO2e/sq. ft. annually.
To achieve a carbon-neutral Seattle by 2050, new buildings should be low-emissions all-electric, and existing buildings must transition to cleaner fuels. Seattle’s current commercial energy code limits gas for space and hot water heating in most new commercial and multifamily construction, substantial alterations, and HVAC or hot water system replacements. The State of Washington has set minimum energy performance standards for existing commercial buildings over 50,000 square feet, however the City estimates this requirement will result in only a 4% reduction by 2030.
Strategies to Cut Building Emissions
There are many ways to begin the process of building decarbonization — and it’s not all or nothing. You can start small and work your way toward total decarbonization, or you can jump right in and dig into all the strategies listed below. Whether you adopt more energy efficient practices or completely switch to clean energy sources, retrofitting your building can make a huge impact on its emissions.
Building decarbonization exists on a spectrum with benchmarking and low cost/no cost energy efficiency measures on one end and equipment replacement on the other. Consider your available resources and those you may have in the future to plan which activities are in scope for your building’s path to decarbonization.
Steps to Decarbonization
With the majority of Seattle’s building-related emissions coming from burning high-emissions fossil fuels, moving to cleaner energy sources is an essential step to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The steps below outline a basic path toward becoming carbon-neutral through energy efficiency measures, emissions reductions, and asset upgrades.
Download the Building Seattle Better fact sheet to learn more about each of these steps toward decarbonization and how you can begin to implement changes in your own buildings.
Your Building’s Path to Decarbonization
The work you are doing for compliance with the WA State Clean Buildings Law for energy efficiency and Seattle Building Tune Ups is already putting you on your path to decarbonization. Strategies you outline in your Energy Management Plan (EMP) and in your Operations and Maintenance (O&M) program can help support the development of decarbonization guidelines, standards, policies and procedures for your buildings and organization.
The WA State Clean Buildings Law mandates that you inventory and document your building’s equipment. As you develop this inventory, it’s a great time to identify the fuel type and the efficiency of your equipment. You can also use this opportunity to document the conditions and remaining life of the equipment so you can begin to plan ahead for upgrades that will support your decarbonization efforts.
As you develop your decarbonization plan, you may want to start with low-hanging fruit that can improve your energy efficiency. These opportunities might include adjusting your controls and setpoints, training your staff and occupants on best practices, or developing standard operating procedures.
Work with your facilities and maintenance staff to think about what equipment can be replaced, like switching to LED lights or installing low-flow plumbing equipment. How can you reduce your building’s load? This might include changes or upgrades to your HVAC system or improvements to your building envelope — like windows and insulation.
Wherever you decide to start, your Energy Management Plan (EMP) and your Operations and Maintenance (O&M) program can be the foundation of your path to decarbonization. Check out ASHRAE's guide to decarbonization for ideas where to start.
Seattle’s Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS)
The City of Seattle developed the new Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS) policy in 2022 and 2023 to maximize benefits to building owners and tenants and to ensure equitable pathways to high quality green jobs, especially for people of color and women. Signed by Mayor Harrel on December 13, 2023, after unanimous approval by the City Council, BEPS is a high-impact solution to the climate crisis that creates healthy and efficient buildings where we work and live.
The Seattle BEPS will establish greenhouse gas emissions intensity (GHGI) targets for nonresidential and multifamily buildings greater than 20,000 SF (excluding parking) to meet at five-year intervals over the next two to three decades. The BEPS policy is projected to reduce building emissions 27% by 2050, making it one of the most impactful climate actions Seattle can take now.
For more information on BEPS, visit the OSE's Building Emissions Performance Standard page or check out the City’s BEPS Fact Sheet.
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