The City of Seattle is receiving $17.2 million from the Department of Energy to implement a landmark program that aims to slash the carbon emissions associated with buildings to zero by 2050. The funding is part of the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.
In December, the Seattle City Council and Mayor Bruce Harrell approved the Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standard, which applies to 4,100 existing buildings of more than 20,000 square feet. That includes structures such as skyscrapers, low- to high-rise buildings, multifamily residences, retail spaces, restaurants, churches, schools and universities, and community centers.
The greenhouse gas sources in buildings are primarily oil and natural gas, including fossil fuel-powered furnaces and water heaters, gas stoves, and fuel leaks from pipes and storage tanks. The new rules are expected to cut emissions from the city’s buildings by 27% by mid-century.
The federal funding will support multiple programs associated with the Building Emissions Performance Standard, including:
- Creation of a support hub to provide building owners assistance and help them in finding financial resources to implement low-carbon upgrades.
- Pay for “compliance fellows” that will help building owners calculate and report their greenhouse gas emissions and provide advice on adhering to the new rules.
- Offer scholarships to help facility managers, building operators and service providers gain needed skills to help others comply with the program.
- Funding additional initiatives supporting training and access to grants, tax credits and other financial resources.
The resources will be allocated through the city’s Office of Sustainability and Environment.
In related news, the Washington state Department of Commerce on Tuesday awarded nearly $5 million to help public higher education institutions reduce their carbon emissions.