Blog - Smart Buildings Center

Quick Survey: Smart Buildings Center Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

March 30, 2023 By SBC staff

We need your voice! Please consider taking less than 5 minutes to complete our survey on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We want to hear from everyone, yes that includes YOU!

The Smart Buildings Center (SBC) is conducting a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) assessment to analyze SBC program reach, participation, and success rates as a means for establishing baseline metrics and setting goals for improvement. As part of this assessment, we invite you to respond to a short DEI survey. Your participation in this survey is anonymous and all questions are optional. We appreciate you taking time to provide data which will inform our action plan aimed at increasing the reach of SBC programs and initiatives.

We ask that you only submit one survey response, but please feel free to share with your colleagues!

TAKE THE SURVEY

Tier 2 Rulemaking Kick-Off Webinar April 13th 10:30AM – 12PM

March 23, 2023 By SBC staff

On March 25, 2022, Governor Inslee signed the Clean Buildings expansion bill into law. The expansion applies to buildings between 20,000-50,000 square feet, adding a new second tier that includes multifamily buildings. The first phase of this law is not a performance standard. It will require reporting on benchmarking, energy management plans and operations and maintenance programs for Tier 2 buildings.

Reporting for this new tier is expected to begin July 1, 2027. The expansion bill also included an incentive program with an additional $150 million available for Tier 2 buildings at a rate of .30 cents per square foot. The new law requires Commerce to complete rulemaking by December 1, 2023.

Commerce will host a series of workshops to establish rules, reporting requirements, and the incentive program for Tier 2 buildings. The kick-off meeting will be a pre-rulemaking webinar, introducing the Clean Buildings Expansion and rulemaking basics.

We hope you can join us during our upcoming stakeholder engagement sessions. Commerce is hosting a Pre-Rulemaking Webinar: Introduction to the Clean Buildings Expansion on April 13, 2023, from 10:30am to 12:00pm PT. Please register in advance to receive a calendar reminder or save the meeting information below.

Zoom Meeting link

Meeting ID: 858 2192 0472

Passcode: 183331

Future workshop schedules will be announced via the Clean Buildings Bulletin and the Commerce webpage.

Puget Sound Energy’s 2023 Accelerator program is open for business

March 17, 2023 By SBC staff

PSE is here to help buildings owners comply with Washington’s Clean Buildings Law (HB 1257, 2019). Our Clean Buildings Accelerator program unpacks the complex law, meets you where you’re at with your energy usage, and teaches you how to comply and go beyond through hands-on training using your own building(s). We’ll help you leverage additional PSE energy-management and incentive programs throughout the entire process. Best part: there is no cost to participate in the Accelerator. Learn more and sign up for orientations or our next Accelerator training at pse.com/cleanbuildings. Our next virtual cohort training is April 25^th and some room still exists.

For more info and a detailed pdf click here.

Register for Certified Energy Manager Training at SBC, May 1st-5th

March 17, 2023 By SBC staff

The Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers is pleased to announce that it will host an in-person Certified Energy Manager (CEM) training and examination on May 1 thru May 5, 2023. The training and examination will be held at the Smart Buildings Center located at 1200 12th Ave S in Seattle, WA.

The Certified Energy Manager is the premier credential for energy professionals and is recognized worldwide. A Certified Energy Manager is an individual who optimizes the energy performance of a facility, building, or industrial plant. The CEM is a systems integrator for electrical, mechanical, process, and building infrastructure, analyzing the optimum solutions to reduce energy consumption in a cost-effective approach. They are often team leaders and help to develop and implement their organizations’ energy management strategies. CEM’s have gained increased recognition within the energy industry and by companies looking to strengthen their competitive position by having responsible energy strategies and sustainable operational practices.

This in-person, 4-day training program will help applicants prepare to take the CEM examination that will be administered on the 5^th day of the program.

The cost of the Certified Energy Manager (CEM) training is $1995 including the 4-day in-person training, exam, and application for CEM certification. Attendees who are members of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of AEE will receive a $200 discount. Fees must be paid at time of registration.

For further information please contact: Duane Lewellen, email: Lewellenllc@gmail.com or call 206-915-8281

Register for Mar 23 11-12, Clean Buildings General Question and Answer Session

March 14, 2023 By SBC staff

Clean Buildings News!

Commerce is hosting a Clean Buildings General Question and Answer Session on March 23, 2023, from 11:00am to 12:00pm PT.

Please register in advance and submit questions via the online registration form.

If you cannot make the session, feel free to reach out to Smart Buildings Center’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard Technical Assistance Helpdesk.

We offer support to building owners, managers, and facility personnel responsible for their building’s compliance with the Washington State Clean Buildings Performance Standard.

The utility-sponsored helpdesk offers:

Free one-on-one coaching during office hours via phone, virtual meetings, and email.
A resource webpage including training videos.
A searchable table for Qualified Persons and Qualified Energy Auditors.
FAQs

For more information and to schedule a consultation, please visit https://www.smartbuildingscenter.org/resources/clean-buildings-performance-standard/

Thank you to our sponsors!

Estimating Your Building’s Emissions and Draft Targets for Proposed Seattle BEPS, Thursday Mar 23 12-1

March 14, 2023 By SBC staff

Registration is open for March 23: Estimating Your Building’s Emissions and Draft Targets for the Proposed Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standards (BEPS)
Are you new to understanding your building’s greenhouse gas emissions and want to learn some simple steps to understand your building’s climate impact? Join the Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) on this beginner-friendly webinar on Zoom to learn how to quickly estimate and track your building’s current greenhouse gas emissions and estimated proposed targets. Learn more and REGISTER HERE. For details on the proposed BEPS policy, visit www.seattle.gov/building-performance-standards or contact cleanbuildings@seattle.gov.

Translation services are available upon request. Call (206) 233-7184  or email cleanbuildings@seattle.gov.

About the Proposed Policy: Performance standards are a powerful tool to reduce climate pollution and transition toward cleaner, healthier buildings where we live and work. The proposed BEPS policy is projected to reduce emissions from Seattle’s buildings (in total) 27% by 2050. This proposed policy would gradually phase out carbon pollution from existing nonresidential and multifamily buildings over 20,000 sq. ft. through mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets beginning 2027 for the largest nonresidential buildings. Targets would become more stringent over time, to net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. Visit www.seattle.gov/building-performance-standards for more information.