Seattle building emissions policy will bring more than climate benefits

Like cities around the world, Seattle is facing the consequences of more than a century of burning fossil fuels — and the impacts are catching up fast.  

Buildings, where Seattle residents seek protection from winter rains and extreme summer heat and smoke, are one of our largest sources of climate pollution. We must ensure the places we live, work and take shelter are not exacerbating the climate crisis but are instead part of the solution.   

That’s why right now, the City Council is considering Mayor Bruce Harrell’s Building Emissions Performance Standard legislation in the Select Committee on Climate Action. Known as “BEPS,” the policy sets carbon emissions targets for Seattle’s existing nonresidential and multifamily buildings greater than 20,000 square feet, about 4,100 of the largest buildings in Seattle.

Projected to reduce climate pollution from buildings by 27% by 2050, BEPS is one of the most impactful actions Seattle can take to reduce emissions. And with this climate-forward policy, Seattle will join just a handful of other U.S. cities such as Boston, Washington, D.C., and New York City in leading the nation on enacting performance standards.  

Buildings that have transitioned off fossil fuels keep occupants more comfortable and help mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and wildfire smoke by providing air filtration and cooling. More efficient buildings reduce energy costs. But the benefits don’t stop there. Decarbonizing buildings will create jobs and safer living spaces; that’s why the Housing Development Consortium and MLK Labor are two of many partners that support this policy. 

As buildings begin to decarbonize to meet BEPS emissions targets, demand for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics, insulation professionals, roofers, electricians, sheet metal workers, engineers, architects and more will increase. New high-paying, local clean-energy careers will benefit Seattle-area workers and expand career pathways for women and workers of color. By using the city of Seattle’s Community Workforce Agreement model, workers from our community will have opportunities in construction to retrofit city-owned buildings and set the model for high-road employment in the clean-energy economy.  

We know building owners and their tenants already face tight cost margins, especially those in affordable housing. The cost of decarbonization and how it may affect already sky-high housing costs in a tough economy is a real concern. But with support for building owners, like technical assistance and direct investment, it is possible to have plentiful housing, a vibrant clean-energy economy, and the cleanest, safest, and most efficient buildings in our city. 

For example, a retrofit at the Washington State Department of Services for the Blind reduced energy use by 70% and nearly zeroed out all emissions by replacing gas-fired systems with electric heat pumps and upgrading windows and lighting. In the affordable housing sector, a concept plan in West Seattle shows how its hot water heating could be upgraded to a low-emissions electric heat pump and a new “cool” community room added to provide heat and wildfire smoke relief, while meeting future BEPS emissions targets. And just last month, the city announced its 62-story Seattle Municipal Tower is now fossil fuel-free — a milestone in our efforts to reduce emissions.

In a time when infighting and division is increasingly common, BEPS shines as a rare piece of consensus legislation, intentionally crafted over years with input from technical experts, building owners, and environmental and labor advocates. The support it received when presented to the City Council’s Special Committee on Climate Action on Nov. 29 is a testament to the broad stakeholder engagement and community members who called for robust action.

Everyone deserves healthy indoor air to breathe and comfortable buildings to work and live in. BEPS proves that when our values are aligned, and leaders from across sectors work together, we can create and pass policies that help us move toward a more equitable, healthy, and resilient Seattle. Our future depends on it.