Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard

Preparing Washington buildings for the next generation of performance standards

Washington’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS) sets new expectations for how commercial buildings use energy. Many buildings over 20,000 square feet are now required to track their energy use, meet specific performance targets, and complete a compliance plan by the state’s deadlines. Additional tiers of buildings will be phased-in over the coming years, expanding who must comply.

If you are a building owner in Seattle, you need to follow both CBPS and Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standards (BEPS).  

Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard

This Impacts

Commerical Property Owners
Facility Managers
Building Engineers

How Do You Define a Tier 1 Building?

50,000 sq ft + 

Nonresidential
Hotel
Motel
Dormitory

All Tier 1 buildings must submit:

  • A certified benchmark that includes Weather Normalized Energy Use Intensity and Energy Use Intensity Targets.
  • An operations and maintenance program (O&M).
  • An energy management plan (EMP).

Due by: June 1, 2026

220,000 square feet +

June 1, 2027

90,000 to 220,000 square feet

June 1, 2028

50,000 to 90,000 square feet

Tier 1 compliance requires a Qualified Person and may require a qualified energy auditor.

How Do You Define a Tier 2 Building?

20,000 sq feet – 50,000 sq feet

Nonresidential
Hotel
Motel
Dormitory

20,000 sq feet +

Multifamily

All Tier 2 buildings must submit:

  • A certified benchmark that includes Weather Normalized Energy Use Intensity and Energy Use Intensity Targets.
  • An operations and maintenance program (O&M).
  • An energy management plan (EMP).

Due by: July 1, 2027

Tier 2 compliance requires a qualified energy manager.

Why MacDonald-Miller?

A True Partner

As a full-service, in-house mechanical contractor, we provide a single point of accountability.

1,000+

MacDonald-Miller has completed over 1,000 building performance benchmarks.

Customized Compliance Plans

We can take you from start to finish and create a customized plan for your building.

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Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standards

Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS) requires buildings to benchmark energy use and also meet greenhouse gas emissions intensity targets. Buildings account for more than 1/3 of Seattle’s emissions, driving the program’s focus on transitioning away from fossil fuel–burning equipment.

Seattle Building Performance Emissions Standard

Your Building Qualifies If Your Building Meets Both of the Following Criteria

Fossil Fuel Equipment
20,000+ square feet of conditioned commercial or multifamily space

What You Need To Know

Seattle buildings are required to submit a benchmark and Greenhouse Gas Report starting in 2027 and meet GHGI (Green House Gas Intensity) targets from 2031 onwards, based on building size.

Fines can be up to $10 per square foot every five years for buildings that don’t meet their targets.

All Seattle Buildings

20,000 sq ft +

Nonresidential
Multifamily 

All buildings must submit:

  • A certified benchmark that includes Greenhouse Gas Intensity.
  • A Greenhouse Gas Report.

Due by: October 1, 2027
90,001 square feet+

October 1, 2028
50,001 to 90,000 square feet
Building portfolios, district campus, and connected buildings

October 1, 2029
30,001 to 50,000 square feet

October 1, 2030
20,001 to 30,000 square feet

Compliance requires a Qualified Person.

Next Steps

1. Get a Certified Benchmark and Greenhouse Gas Report
2. Build Compliance and Action Plans for Your Building


3. Integrate Seattle BEPS Planning Into Your Capital Expenditure Plan (CapEx)

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