Clean Buildings Performance Standard
What is Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard?
Benchmarking for the Washington state Clean Buildings Performance Standard is the process of measuring and tracking a building’s energy use in order to compare it to similar buildings. The CBPS requires buildings to be benchmarked in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® (ESPM). This benchmarking process helps building owners understand their building’s energy use and identify areas for improvement.
What buildings are required per Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard?
There are Tier 1 and Tier 2 covered buildings.
- Tier 1 covered building (formerly known as covered commercial building): a building where the sum of nonresidential, hotel, motel and dormitory floor areas exceeds 50,000 gross square feet, excluding the parking garage area.
- Tier 2 covered building: a building where the sum of multifamily residential, nonresidential, hotel, motel, and dormitory floor areas exceeds 20,000 gross square feet, but does not exceed 50,000 gross square feet, excluding the parking garage area. Tier 2 covered buildings also include multifamily residential buildings where floor areas are equal to or exceed 50,000 gross square feet, excluding the parking garage area.
Compliance deadlines
Tier 1 covered buildings reporting schedule:
- June 1, 2026 – More than 220,000 sq. ft.
- June 1, 2027 – More than 90,000 sq. ft. but less than 220,001 sq. ft
- June 1, 2028 – More than 50,000 sq. ft. but less than 90,001 sq. ft
Tier 2 covered buildings reporting schedule:
- July 1, 2027 – More than 20,000 sq. ft. but less than 50,001 sq. ft. and All Multifamily residential buildings more than 20,000 sq. ft.
Your building may qualify for an exemption from reporting if:
New buildings with a Certificate of Occupancy dated 2 years prior to the benchmarking deadline.
Buildings with less than one full-time occupant.
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
There are three main scenarios for penalties depending on your actions:
Submitting a Non-Compliance Mitigation Plan:
- If you respond quickly (within 30 days) with a plan to fix the issue, you’ll get fined annually until the problem is solved. The fine won’t be more than 30% of $5,000, plus a daily fee of $0.20 per square foot of your building’s area (capped at one year’s worth of daily fines).
- If you submit a plan but don’t follow through, and your building isn’t compliant by the next deadline, you’ll face the maximum penalty: $5,000 plus a daily fee of $1.00 per square foot (capped at 18 months’ worth of daily fines).
Choosing to Pay the Fine:
- You can choose to just pay the maximum penalty instead of fixing the issue. This is also $5,000 plus a daily fee of $1.00 per square foot (capped at 18 months’ worth of daily fines). You’ll be charged this for each compliance period you miss.
Late Payment:
- If you don’t pay the fines within 180 days of receiving the final order, you may get hit with even more penalties. The total won’t exceed the original maximum, though.
What is the compliance process?
Building owners must report their energy usage data to Energy Star Portfolio Manager, a reporting tool that allows building owners to compare their building’s energy efficiency with similar buildings.
What is the deadline for Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard?
The deadline for compliance is June 1 for all Tier 1 buildings.
- June 1, 2026: 220,001+ sq. ft.
- June 1, 2027: 90,001- 220,000 sq. ft.
- June 1, 2028: 50,000- 90,000 sq. ft.
All Tier 2 buildings should comply by July 1st 2027.
What utilities are required for benchmarking reporting?
- Electricity
- Natural Gas
- District Energy
- Any other purchased fuel
What is the purpose for Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard?
The Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard has a two-fold purpose focused on making buildings more environmentally friendly:
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Buildings are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, especially in Washington State. The Standard aims to address this by setting mandatory energy efficiency requirements for large commercial buildings. By reducing energy consumption, these buildings will also emit fewer greenhouse gasses, contributing to the fight against climate change.
Improve Energy Efficiency: The Standard goes beyond just reducing emissions. It also encourages building owners to improve the overall energy efficiency of their buildings. This can lead to significant cost savings on energy bills over time. By implementing energy-saving measures, buildings can use less energy to maintain comfortable conditions for occupants.
In essence, the Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard is a policy that tackles environmental concerns and promotes cost-effective building operations.
Interested in benchmarking help?
If you are interested to learn more how Energy Fave can help with Energy benchmarking for your building or if you have more questions about the whole reporting process, feel free to email us: Info@energyfave.com