Building Emissions Performance Standard

Buildings are responsible for 40% of Seattle's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, leading the City to adopt the Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS) law, which requires most buildings larger than 20,000 square feet to reach net zero emissions between 2041 and 2050.

BEPS includes Benchmarking Verification and Greenhouse Gas Report requirements and sets emissions targets for existing nonresidential and multifamily buildings larger than 20,000 square feet. A building’s particular emissions targets and compliance deadlines are determined by the use and size of the building, and become gradually stronger every five years. Most buildings covered by BEPS should reach net-zero emissions in the 2040s, making it one of the most impactful climate actions the City of Seattle is taking to tackle the climate crisis.

The Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) developed and is implementing BEPS. OSE is conducting a rulemaking process that will finalize BEPS compliance details ahead of the first deadlines in 2027. OSE is engaging partners and stakeholders in the meantime to ensure every building owner and manager is ready to comply with the new law. 

Want a quick intro to BEPS? We recommend watching a brief recorded presentation that covers the basics of the BEPS law.