Seattle is implementing a series of regulations, benchmarks, and codes targeting greenhouse gas emissions from the buildings sector, including an open-source platform for energy performance.
Seattle’s recently adopted package of four NextGen efficiency programs will reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in new and existing buildings via a coordinated suite of strategies, including regulations, technical and financial assistance, and building performance data.
81,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent saved from buildings via NextGen programs
Cities100 – 2017
For new buildings, the Seattle Energy Code builds upon national policy guidelines and sets the bar higher for energy efficiency standards. For existing buildings, owners are required to publicly publish energy performance figures annually, creating awareness and a competitive environment for energy efficiency in the private sector. On top of this, every five years, buildings are required to tune up energy and water operations to make further efficiency improvements. These policy tools are expected to ratchet up emissions savings in a sector notoriously difficult to impact, in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
The challenge
Buildings are the second-largest source of carbon emissions in Seattle, primarily due to the use of natural gas for heating and cooling. Reducing building emissions is critical to meeting the city’s ambitious climate goals.
Co-benefits
Economic Energy savings from the programs are expected to save approximately $44 million per year on utility bills.
Environmental The building tune-up program reduces energy consumption and reliance on fossil fuels, which lowers associated life-cycle impacts on ecosystems and health. It also reduces water consumption, which is important for a water-scarce city like Seattle.
Social In order to avoid unfair regulatory and economic burdens on small buildings and businesses, Seattle’s Building Tune-Up Accelerator offers free technical assistance and financial incentives to help smaller buildings take early action to improve efficiency.
About Seattle
Seattle is a seaport city on the west coast of the United States. With an estimated 704,352 residents as of 2016, Seattle is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Seattle has a noteworthy musical history and is the birthplace of rock musician Jimi Hendrix, origin of the bands Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and the alternative rock movement grunge.
