There’s no shortage of media coverage about the energy industry, especially when strategies for the transition to a cleaner energy future are involved.

As both an energy customer and a utility employee, I have seen firsthand how confusing the constant flow of information can be. It’s often very general and not specific to inputs and circumstances that building owners frequently need to navigate to make informed energy management decisions.

In particular, Washington state’s Clean Buildings Standard (HB 1257) can be a challenging topic to follow. I’d like to offer some insights to help building owners understand this law, as well as some recommendations for ways to start moving toward compliance.

Clean buildings overview

Signed into law in 2019, the Clean Buildings Standard was created to address climate change and reduce Washington’s carbon footprint. It builds on previous energy-efficiency initiatives and aligns with the state’s broader climate goals.

Emily Salzberg, managing director of clean buildings for the Washington state Department of Commerce says, “Washington state’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard is an important step in helping the state achieve our greenhouse gas emissions limits. The standard creates an opportunity for building owners to increase energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save on energy costs long-term.”

More specifically, the Clean Buildings Standard sets ambitious energy-usage targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in commercial buildings 20,000 square feet and larger.

You might wonder why the law targets only commercial buildings. According to Commerce, these buildings account for at least 25% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. The law aims to lower their energy consumption to levels that are both economically and environmentally sustainable.

Compliance challenges

One of the main challenges of complying with the Clean Buildings Standard is that many building owners don’t know where or how to begin. Many are unaware of the law and its compliance requirements and deadlines, which depend on building size.

The Clean Building Standard deadlines are: June 1, 2026, for buildings over 220,000 square feet; June 1, 2027, for buildings over 90,000 and up to 220,000 square feet; July 1, 2027 for buildings from 20,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet, including multifamily buildings over 20,000 square feet; and June 1, 2028, for buildings over 50,000 square feet and up to 90,000 square feet.

Additionally, the cost of compliance poses a significant challenge. Retrofitting building systems to meet the law’s energy-use intensity, or EUI, targets can be expensive. Not all building owners have the capital to invest in such improvements and for those that do, contracting the work and securing product can be difficult. Implementing measures can take years. For owners of older buildings, like many throughout the Inland Northwest, the technical complexity of necessary upgrades can be overwhelming.

Getting started

If your building is impacted by the Clean Buildings Standard, you’ll need to understand your requirements, which include:

*Determining your building’s current EUI performance.

*Identifying your building’s EUI target. If you’re not meeting it, you’ll need to develop a plan to take action to meet your EUI target, which may include an energy audit.

*Developing and implementing operations-and-maintenance and energy-management plans at least 12 months ahead of your compliance deadline.

*Ensuring a qualified person—most often a licensed professional engineer or certified energy manager—reviews and signs off on all documentation.

Yes, that’s a long to-do list.

With compliance deadlines fast approaching, it’s imperative for building owners to begin taking action now. It’s important to remember that every building has a unique energy usage profile and there is no one-size-fits-all path to Clean Buildings Standard compliance. Typically, it will occur by meeting or exceeding the necessary EUI target or investing in cost-effective energy-efficiency measures.

Compliance resources

Commerce has developed a range of resources and programs to help building owners achieve Clean Buildings compliance.

Commerce’s online Clean Buildings Portal includes detailed information about compliance requirements, deadlines, step-by-step guides, and more. Included are lists of qualified energy auditors and service providers, as well as workshops and webinars.

The department’s Early Adopter Incentive Program offers financial incentives for buildings that meet specific criteria and that achieve compliance ahead of their mandatory deadlines. This program helps offset the costs of upgrades and encourages early action, reducing the risks of a last-minute rush.

Avista Utilities’ free Clean Buildings Accelerator Program is ideal for building owners who need help getting started and identifying their unique compliance pathway. It offers four-month “sprints” with monthly workshops and tailored coaching.

To ensure success, energy manager tools and guidance, hands-on Energy Star portfolio manager training and support, an energy-management plan practicum with templates, operations-and-maintenance program tools, and building EUI and EUI target identification with scalable compliance solutions are included. Ongoing seminars and support for potential Avista incentives extends beyond program “graduation.”

All building owners impacted by the Clean Buildings Standard are required to utilize the Energy Star portfolio manager tool to track their monthly energy usage. This free service takes the guesswork out of building-meter data collection. It saves building owners time by providing automatic data uploads every month.

Lowering the costs of energy-saving projects is possible with Avista’s commercial rebate programs. Off-the-shelf money-saving options are available for a range of upgrades including lighting, food-service equipment, insulation, refrigeration, HVAC, and water heating. Custom incentives may also be available for upgrades like building controls, specialized equipment, windows, and more.

Washington’s Clean Buildings Standard represents a significant step forward in the state’s fight against climate change. While the path to compliance can be challenging, there are resources and support available to help make it possible. By understanding requirements and taking proactive steps, building owners can achieve compliance, while contributing to the broader transition to a cleaner energy future.

Details on compliance deadlines and requirements, as well as the Clean Buildings Portal, can be found on the Washington state Department of Commerce website.

Michele Drake is an energy-efficiency program manager at Avista Utilities, in Spokane.