Multifamily Building Energy Solutions

As a multifamily building owner or property manager, you're continuously juggling building and resident concerns. We offer complimentary assistance and financial incentives to help you save energy and money and increase building performance and tenant satisfaction.

Contact an Energy Advisor

Financial Incentives for Energy Efficiency Initiatives

Take control of tenant comfort by weatherizing your multifamily property. Air leaks and insufficient insulation contribute to drafts and uncomfortable temperatures. We offer incentives for window retrofits and insulation upgrades to help you improve tenant comfort and reduce energy use. Upgrades are available for owners of electrically heated apartment buildings, condominiums, retirement communities, and/or cooperatives with 5 or more units located in the our service area.

Review our multifamily weatherization incentives and multifamily weatherization program requirements.

If 50% or more of your building tenants are income-qualified, your project may be eligible to participate in City of Seattle Office of Housing HomeWise program which offers incentives up to 90% of project cost.

Commercial building retrofits of lighting fixtures, lighting controls, and HVAC controls can provide excellent energy and cost savings. Multifamily buildings with 5 or more units are eligible for common area upgrades and projects can include multiple energy conservation measures.

Review our commercial retrofit program requirements and commercial retrofit incentive list.

Typical incentives include common area and in-unit lighting, windows and insulation, appliances, whole-house fans, heat recovery ventilators, heat pump water heaters, heat pump dryers, heat pumps for in-unit space heat, Built-Green certification, and custom energy efficiency measures.

We are currently redesigning our new construction offerings for equipment or performance above and beyond what is required by the Seattle Energy Code. Please check back later this year.

We have partnered with distributors to offer instant discounts for qualified lighting, heating, and cooling solutions.

Lighting to Go

Our Lighting to Go program offers instant discounts on qualified commercial LED products to help your building enjoy energy savings and high-quality lighting for years to come. Lighting to Go is only available for common area measures in multifamily buildings.

Review our Lighting to Go factsheet to find eligible products and discounts and visit one of our participating distributors to purchase your discounted commercial lighting. 

Heating and Cooling Equipment

Contractors can receive instant discounts on qualified heat pumps under 5.4 tons and heat pump water heaters less than or equal to 120 gallons.

Have your contractor contact a participating distributor to purchase discounted equipment on your behalf. 

We offer easy and quick rebates to help reduce the cost of energy efficiency projects. Multifamily properties with 5 or more units may be eligible for energy conservation measures in common area spaces. These simple rebates do not require pre-approval, however, be sure to carefully review eligibility requirements, and rebate applications must be received within 90 days of purchase.

View all Simple Rebate Offers

Advanced Rooftop Controls

Adding advanced rooftop controls to constant speed packaged rooftop units can save up to 60% on your fan energy cost and provided improved comfort, better indoor air quality, and remote control energy monitoring and management.

Visit Trade Ally Network Northwest to learn more.

Commercial Kitchen Equipment

Energy-efficient electric ovens, ice makers, hot food holding cabinets, and other commercial kitchen equipment can lower the amount of energy you use and save you money.

Review our Commercial Kitchen Equipment factsheet for more information.

While we do not provide contractor recommendations or endorsements, we do recommend that you get a minimum of three bids and always check references. Here are a few resources to help you find a contractor for your project:

Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heaters

Hot Water Solutions NW

Energy Star

HVAC and Lighting

Trade Ally Network NW

Air Conditioning Contractors of America

NXT Level Lighting

Building Envelope

Building Performance Institute

ASHRAE Modeling

Energy Star

Tune Up Specialists

Northwest Energy Efficiency Council

Electrification

More and more City Light business customers are considering whole building electrification to benefit from affordable, clean electricity with a net-zero impact and to improve tenant and customer satisfaction.

Learn more about our electrification plans and strategies.

Find financial incentives for electrically powered equipment for existing facilities.

Thinking about hosting electric vehicle (EV) charging at your building? Learn more about the City of Seattle's Drive Clean Initiative and find more information about installing Electric Vehicle (EV) charging for Seattle-based multifamily properties.

Additional Resources

Lighting Design Lab

Offering training and technical support for the design of lighting systems, including mock-ups to see before you buy.

Learn more

Other Helpful Links

City Light

Debra Smith, General Manager and CEO
Address: 700 5th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 34023, Seattle, WA, 98124-4023
Phone: (206) 684-3000
SCL_ExternalComms@seattle.gov

Seattle City Light was created by the citizens of Seattle in 1902 to provide affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible electric power to the City of Seattle and neighboring suburbs.