Seattle Building Energy Performance Standard & Tune-Up Compliance
Navigate Seattle’s BEPS with Confidence
The Big Shift: Seattle's Building Policy is Changing
The city is in a major transition, phasing out one policy and replacing it with a new, more comprehensive standard.
Here is the simple breakdown of what's happening:
1. The "Old" Law: Building Tune-Ups (Now Phasing Out)
What it is: This is the policy you are likely familiar with. It required non-residential buildings (50,000+ sq ft) to perform a procedural "tune-up" every 5 years to identify energy-saving opportunities.
STATUS: SUNSETTING. This policy is being phased out and will expire completely in 2028. If your building is in its final compliance cycle, you must still complete it.
2. The "New" Law: Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS)
What it is: This is the new, permanent standard that replaces the old Tune-Up policy. It is a much stricter, performance-based law.
Who it Affects: All non-residential and multifamily buildings 20,000 sq ft or larger.
The Goal: BEPS sets a hard target for your building's Greenhouse Gas Intensity (GHGI)—a measure of carbon emissions. This is a major shift from the old focus on just energy use.
Who is Affected by BEPS?
If your building is < 50,000 sq ft (but > 20,000 sq ft): You only need to worry about the new BEPS policy.
If your building is > 50,000 sq ft: You must complete your final Building Tune-Up requirement and begin planning for the new, ongoing BEPS requirements.
Key Compliance Periods:
This is the new, permanent standard for buildings 20,000 sq ft or larger. It sets a carbon (GHGI) target for your building.
| Building Size (Sq Ft) | Step 1: Verify & Report | Step 2: Meet GHG Target |
|---|---|---|
| > 220,000 | October 1, 2027 | October 1, 2031 |
| 90,001 - 220,000 | October 1, 2027 | October 1, 2032 |
| 50,001 - 90,000 | October 1, 2028 | October 1, 2033 |
| 30,001 - 50,000 | October 1, 2029 | October 1, 2034 |
| 20,001 - 30,000 | October 1, 2030 | October 1, 2035 |
This policy is phasing out. This table shows the *final* required tune-up for non-residential buildings 50,000 sq ft or larger.
| Building Size (Sq Ft) | Final Tune-Up Deadline |
|---|---|
| 70,000 - 99,999 | October 1, 2025 (Now Past) |
| 50,000 - 69,999 | October 1, 2026 |
| 100,000+ | Your final deadline has passed. |
Unlike large-scale design firms, our core focus is not on expensive equipment replacement. We are building tune-up specialists.
Our expertise is in retro-commissioning and operational efficiency. We believe that most buildings can achieve significant energy savings and emissions reductions by optimizing the systems they already own. We analyze your building's HVAC, lighting, and control systems to find low-cost, high-impact solutions that cut utility costs and ensure full regulatory compliance.
As certified Tune-Up Specialists and Qualified Persons (QP) for Seattle's BEPS program, we are your single, expert partner. We provide a direct, technical, and cost-effective path to making your building more efficient, comfortable, and compliant.
Seattle BEPS vs. State (WA CBPS)
Buildings in Seattle must comply with both the city (BEPS) and state (CBPS) laws. They are separate requirements.
The key difference is the metric:
Seattle BEPS (City): Measures Greenhouse Gas Intensity (GHGI). This targets carbon emissions and heavily penalizes fossil fuels like natural gas.
WA CBPS (State): Measures Energy Use Intensity (EUI). This targets total energy consumption.
We provide a single, unified strategy to optimize your systems for both carbon and energy, ensuring full compliance without redundant work.