Benchmarking Standards for Seattle Buildings
Our Mission‑Driven Approach in Seattle
Building Performance Standards for Seattle, WA (Building Emissions Performance Standards)
Performance Metrics
Greenhouse gas emissions intensity targets (GHGIT), measured as a value of kgC02e units per square foot per year (kgCO2e/SF/yr)
Performance Targets/Standards
Greenhouse gas emissions intensity targets (GH- GIT) are determined by building activity type. GH- GITs for the 2036 and later intervals are provisional and may be updated by Rule.
Compliance Pathways
Path A: Individual buildings, building portfolios or campuses meet a standard GHGIT prorated for the mix of uses in a building, portfolio, or campus. Unique buildings or those with extremely high emissions may use an Alternate GHGIT (constant percent emissions reduction target from a covered building, district campus, connected buildings, or public/nonprofit building portfolio baseline GHGI to net-zero). Path B: Small modifications like extensions, emis- sions deductions for certain energy uses. Alterna- tive Compliance Payments (2031-35 only): building owners can meet up to a 100% of required emission reductions via payment. Multiple pathway options, refer to the city webpage for more details. Path C: Special consideration and flexibility for extenuating circumstances. Buildings must meet eligibility criteria to use. Multiple pathway options, refer to the city webpage for more details.
Exemptions
Industrial buildings and all-electric buildings.
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Seattle Building Energy Performance Standards
Policy Name
Building Emissions Performance Standards
Year Enacted
2023
Covered Buildings
Public/Gov’t, Comm, & MF buildings ≥ 20,000 sq. ft.
Compliance Cycle
The first reporting year for GHGIT planning/report- ing and benchmarking verification are the following: Oct 1st, 2027: >90,001 sq. ft. Oct 1st, 2028: 50,001 - 90,000 sq. ft. Oct 1st, 2029: 30,001 - 50,000 sq. ft. Oct 1st, 2030: 20,001 - 30,000 sq. ft. The first reporting year for meeting the GHGIT obli- gations are the following: Oct 1st, 2031: >220,001 sq. ft. Oct 1st, 2032: 90,001 - 220,000 sq. ft. Oct 1st, 2033: 50,001 - 90,000 sq. ft. Oct 1st, 2034: 30,001 - 50,000 sq. ft. Oct 1st, 2035: 20,001 - 30,000 sq. ft. and every fifth year thereafter.
Enforcement
Flat fines of $15,000 and $7,500, depending on building size, may be assessed for failure to report and inaccu- rate reporting. For failure to meet GHGI targets (2031 and later), noncompliance carries penalties of $2.50/ square foot for low-income housing/low-rent multifam- ily buildings, $7.50/square foot for other multifamily and $10.00/square foot for nonresidential buildings.
