Chapter Events

September 27th, 2024 | Lunch and Learn: Learn More!

October 25th, 2024 | Tour - Bouldering Project: University District: Learn More!

November 8th, 2024 | Tour - UA Local 32 Training Facility: Learn More!

December 4th, 2024 | Save the Date! Annual Holiday Party: Learn More!

IFMA National News

Regional News

ENERGY BENCHMARKING

(Non-residential and Multifamily Buildings > 20,000 SF)

Congratulations Seattle! 92% Benchmarking Compliance

The Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) is pleased to announce that more than 92% of required property owners have achieved compliance with the City’s benchmarking law for the 2023 reporting year. The deadline for reporting 2023 energy and emissions data was June 1, 2024, 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 September 4^th are now in violation. OSE has issued Notices of Violation (“NOVs”) with fines via certified mail to the building owners of record and their Registered Agents.

Non-compliant property owners have been issued a single violation under the newly adopted two-tier fine structure:

• $2000 penalty - buildings between 20,000 and 50,000 square feet
• $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 NOV will have all fines mitigated.

Please note that properties which achieve benchmarking compliance after 9/4/2024, 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 2023 compliance status. The OSE Director will conduct administrative review of submitted appeals and issue determinations to all appellants.

Additional PSE EnergyCAP Training

Are you out of compliance and in need of natural gas data to complete your 2023 benchmarking report? Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is hosting three additional trainings for new EnergyCAP users during the enforcement appeal window to support building owners and managers who must complete enrollment in in PSE EnergyCAP natural gas data exchange tool.

The trainings will be held on select Thursdays (9/19, 9/26, and 10/3) from 1:00 – 2:00 PM.

Click here for more information and to register.

BUILDING TUNE-UPS

(Non-residential Buildings 50,000 SF+)

Upcoming Building Tune-Up Deadlines

Cohort 2 Building Tune-Ups due October 1, 2024

Owners of Cohort 2 buildings (100,000-199,999 square feet) must complete their second cycle tune-up by October 1^st, 2024. Warning letters will be sent to those that fail to achieve compliance and violations will be issued starting April 1^st, 2025.

Enforcement for Overdue Cohort 1 Building Tune-Ups

Building owners of Cohort 1 properties (200,000 square feet and larger) who have not submitted a complete second cycle tune-up summary report by October 1, 2024 will be issued a Notice of Violation with a $20,000 penalty for non-compliance.

Cohort 3 Buildings Alternative Compliance due April 1, 2025

The extension, waiver, and alternative compliance deadline for owners of Cohort 3 buildings (70,000-99,999 square feet) is April 1, 2025. View the tune-up alternative compliance handout (PDF) for details on each alternative compliance pathway.

Buildings that recently changed ownership, have a low occupancy rate, or have permitted HVAC improvements underway may be eligible for one-year extensions. View the tune-up extensions and waivers resource (PDF) for a full list of circumstances allowing building owners more time to comply—and sometimes waive their tune-up obligations entirely.

Owners must submit all extensions, waivers, and alternative compliance requests in the Seattle Services Portal.

Cohort 3 building owners who do not obtain an extension, waiver, or alternative compliance must complete a tune-up by October 1, 2025.

New Tune-Up Alternative Compliance Pathway

Seattle created a new tune-up alternative compliance pathway for buildings achieving early compliance with the WA State Clean Building Performance Standard (CBPS). Commerce recently increased the early adopter incentive from $0.85 to $2 per square foot plus an additional $.05/sq ft incentive beyond the minimum EUI reduction of 15 kBTU/sf/year. The incentive increases are designed to cover up to 50% of improvement costs.

Get expert help from PSE on Clean Buildings Law compliance

PSE supports building owners and operators to comply with Washington state’s Clean Buildings Law, even if they use electricity from other utilities like Seattle City Light, Tacoma Power or Snohomish PUD.

Our Clean Buildings Accelerator program unpacks the complex law, meets you where you’re at with your energy use and goals, and coaches you to comply through a hands-on series of virtual trainings. We use your own building(s) as examples and help you leverage PSE’s energy management and incentive programs to meet and exceed your benchmarking targets.

Space in the Clean Buildings Accelerator program is limited for these last 2 sessions of 2024 and compliance dates are quickly creeping up for the largest buildings. Visit pse.com/cleanbuildings to learn more and join one of our upcoming information sessions on Sept 18 or Oct 15. The next training cohorts begin Sept. 11 and Oct 29.

Uncertain about the Clean Buildings Law or our Accelerator program? Check out this short video. If you have questions or need more information, please contact us at cleanbuildings@pse.com.

HELP DESK CONTACT INFO

Energy Benchmarking: EnergyBenchmarking@seattle.gov | 206-727-8484

Building Tune-Ups: BuildingTuneUps@seattle.gov | 206-727-8863

Clean Buildings Performance Standard https://smartbuildingscenter.org/resources/clean-buildings-performance-standard-2/

Invitation from Seattle 2030 District



Focus Group on Stormwater Management in Affordable Housing - October 10th

We are excited to invite you to a special focus group on stormwater management in affordable housing, hosted by the Seattle and Bellevue 2030 Districts with support from the King County WaterWorks Program.

Event Details:

• Date: October 10th
• Time: 11 AM - 1 PM
• Location: University of Washington, Architecture Hall 250
• Address: 3943 West Stevens Way Northeast #250 Seattle, WA 98195

This focus group is a unique opportunity for affordable housing owners, operators, and managers to discuss strategies, limitations, and opportunities for improving stormwater management. Your insights and experiences are invaluable to this important conversation.

Lunch will be provided, and attendees will receive a complimentary ticket to tour the Seattle Housing Authority’s Willis House, showcasing innovative stormwater infrastructure in action.

Register to join us: https://bit.ly/2030DistrictxWaterWorks. We look forward to your participation in this crucial discussion.

Clean Buildings Incentive Program – Bellevue & Issaquah

The Cities of Bellevue and Issaquah are helping large buildings (20,000+ sf) to reduce energy use, save on costs, and comply with WA State Clean Buildings Law. Free building energy services include energy benchmarking, scoping assessments, incentive navigation, and compliance reporting support – an estimated $18,000 value. 

Sign-up today: Bellevue | Issaquah

BOC Courses

FREE, ONLINE DEMAND FLEXIBILITY LEARNING WITH AESP & The U.S.D.O.E.

Brought to you by AESP and the U.S. Department of Energy, Demand flexibility is the heartbeat of our future grid. It is the coordinated manipulation of energy consumption and production across grid devices on a massive scale while maintaining livability and comfort standards. AESP is now offering free, online courses that are convenient, and designed for tomorrow's energy efficiency leaders.

Elevate your expertise with FLEX's accredited online courses! Dive into demand flexibility, exploring water heaters, lighting, HVAC systems, and cutting-edge distributed energy resources (DERs) like solar, battery storage, and EVSE. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, FLEX FLEX's 3-course series offers flexible learning modules, and equips tomorrow's workforce with skills for grid-interactive energy technologies. Whether designing customer offerings or engaging with these resources as grid assets, FLEX is your gateway to mastering the future of energy. Ideal for Energy Efficiency and DER Professionals, Electric Utilities Staff, and more. Seize the opportunity to maximize the value of flexible loads as both a grid asset and a customer asset. Enroll now for a brighter, sustainable future! Register here: Login.aesp.org

ENERGY BENCHMARKING

(Non-residential and Multifamily Buildings > 20,000 SF)

Benchmarking Enforcement Grace Period Ends September 1^st

Congratulations to the 87% of required properties that have attained compliance with Seattle’s benchmarking law. The deadline for submitting reporting year 2023 benchmarking data was June 1^st.

Property owners who are out of compliance have until September 1^st, 2024, to submit an accurate benchmarking report. After that date, Notices of Violation and fines will be issued. Per updates to the benchmarking law made in December 2023, the City will now impose a single comprehensive fine for each violation, rather than quarterly accruing fines. Non-compliance after the end of the grace period will result in a $2,000 fine for properties between 20,000 and 50,000 square feet and a $4,000 fine for properties larger than 50,000 square feet. Please visit the Benchmarking Instructions page for detailed guidance on how to ensure compliance.

Review the Compliance Status of Your Building(s)

Property owners can check their compliance status in the 2023 Benchmarking Compliance Portal by searching the Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) Building ID, property name, or ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® username. The Compliance Portal will continue to be updated three times per week through October 2024. If you need help finding your building’s OSE Building ID, search the Energy Benchmarking Map for your property. Additionally, a list of all non-compliant properties as of 7/19/2024 can be downloaded here.

International Facility Management Association

5727 Baker Way NW Suite 200 | Gig Harbor, WA 98332

(253) 265-3042

https://www.ifma.org/