Building energy is the second largest source of Seattle’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the largest source nationally. Seattle has been a leader in green building, particularly in the design of new buildings. There is a great opportunity for Seattle to continue its leadership by developing policies and programs targeted at promoting higher energy efficiency in existing buildings. Building efficiency will also need to be a key element in helping Seattle meet near- and mid-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.

The Existing Buildings Committee of the Green Building Task Force will apply its collective professional advice on energy efficiency, sustainable building and climate protection policy options that could help Seattle achieve gains in energy efficiency within the existing residential and commercial, public and private building stock. The range of policy options that will be considered by the Committee can be lumped into two general categories:

• The first category consists of policies that provide financing and incentives that make energy efficiency upgrades cost effective and attractive to consumers. Options in this category could include public or private financing (including utility bill financing), expanded conservation programs, or energy efficiency tax credits.


• The second category includes policies that require increases in building energy efficiency. Mandates could include requiring disclosure of energy use history, energy efficiency audits, energy efficiency upgrades at the point of sale, or enhanced energy codes and standards. While financing and incentive policies rely on voluntary participation in the programs, mandates require participation and allow us to reach all energy sources.

Information shared during the meetings will inform staff recommendations to the Mayor on the development of improved and/or new regulatory and programmatic measures to support the Mayor’s Green Building Capital Initiative.

Existing Buildings Committee member list

Meeting schedule and materials

September 3, Seattle Municipal Tower, Room 1600, 2:30 - 5:30 pm

Agenda (PDF, 43 KB)

Meeting summary (PDF, 63 KB)

Powerpoint Presentations:

• Seattle City Light Conservation Plan (PDF, 700 KB)
• Puget Sound Energy Conservation Programs (PDF, 735 KB)
• Seattle Climate Protection Initiative Overview (PDF, 2 MB)
• Seattle Green Building Programs and Policies (PDF, 1.5 MB)
• The 2030 Challenge in Seattle (PDF, 2.1 MB)

Supporting Materials:

• Seattle City Light Conservation Potential Assessment
• Seattle City Light Conservation 5-year Plan
• City of Seattle Climate Action Plan (PDF, 850 KB)
• Puget Sound Energy Conservation Potential Assessment
• PSE Residential Energy Conservation Programs
• PSE Conservation Programs for Business

September 23, Seattle Central Library, Washington Mutual Foundation Room, 2:30 - 6:00 pm

Agenda

Meeting summary

Powerpoint Presentations:

• Existing Buildings Policy Research - Disclosure Mandates (PDF, 232 KB)
• Green Jobs Overview (PDF, 143 KB)

Supporting Materials:

• Existing Buildings Policies for Consideration (PDF, 14 KB)

Supporting Materials:

• Existing Buildings Policies for Consideration (PDF, 14 KB)
• Introduction to Home Energy Performance Score (PDF, 3.5 MB)
• Introduction to Energy Star Portfolio Manager (PDF, 552 KB)

Scorecards

• Disclosure of Historic Buildings Energy Use (PDF, 24 KB)
• Disclosure of Building Energy Performance - Prescriptive Checklist Approach (PDF, 24 KB)
• Disclosure of Building Energy Performance - Rating/Label Approach (PDF, 27 KB)
• Disclosure of Building Energy Performance - Assessment Summary Matrix (PDF, 18 KB)

October 7, Seattle Central Library, Washington Mutual Foundation Room, 2:00 - 5:30 pm

Agenda

Meeting summary

Powerpoint Presentations:

• Existing Buildings Policy Research - Financing & Incentives (PDF, 119 KB)

Supporting Materials:

• Joel Rogers presentation Milwaukee's Me2 program (PDF, 513 KB)
• E-Source On-bill financing presentation (PDF, 6.7 MB)
• Efficiency Vermont study (PDF, 2.6 MB)
• EU Existing Buildings & Energy Presentation (PDF, 713 KB)
• Sales of Certified Homes (PDF, 121 KB)

Scorecards

• Financing Policies Scorecards (PDF, 69 KB)

October 21, Seattle Central Library, Washington Mutual Foundation Room, 2:00 - 5:30 pm

Agenda

Meeting summary

Powerpoint Presentations:

• Existing Buildings Policy Research - Financial Incentives and Upgrade Mandates (PDF, 101 KB)

Scorecards

• Upgrade Incentives and Mandates (PDF, 46 KB)

November 18, Seattle Central Library, Washington Mutual Foundation Room, 2:00 - 5:30 pm

Agenda

Meeting summary

Powerpoint Presentations:

• Existing Buildings Policy Review (PDF, 183 KB)
• Existing Buildings Policy Preferences Matrix (PDF, 1 MB)

Existing Buildings Committee Members

Joanne MacKintosh, American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)
Scott Finley, Atmosphere IEM, Inc.
Rod Kauffman, BOMA Seattle-King County
Aaron Fairchild, GreenWorks Realty
Kathleen Brooker, Historic Seattle
Richard Bendix, HomeStreet Bank
Pedro Vasquez, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc.
Kent Barber, Keithly Barber Associates, Inc.
Christian Gunter, Kennedy Associates
Beth Humphreys, King County
Ash Awad, McKinstry
Kim Drury, NW Energy Coalition
Stan Price, NW Energy Efficiency Council
John Littel, Pacific NW Council of Carpenters
Cal Shirley, Puget Sound Energy
Cynthia Putnam, Putnam Price Group
Tom Tierney, Seattle Housing Authority
Jolene Anderson, Seattle-King County Association of Realtors
Stan Gent, Seattle Steam
Rachel Brombaugh, ShoreBank Enterprise Cascadia
Dusty Hoerler, Sound Alliance
Karen Lesley-Lloyd, Tenants Union of Washington State
Richard Happel, University Mechanical Contractors, Inc.
Chuck Trafton, Washington Land Title Association
Steve Clark, Washington Oil Marketers Association
Arun Jhaveri, Certified Sustainable Development Professional (CSDP)