Commerce offers incentives and grants to building owners who are required to comply with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS). These funds can help cover some compliance costs, perform energy audits, or pay for the necessary projects and services to meet the CBPS requirements. The initiatives aim to reduce energy consumption, lower operational costs, improve indoor air quality, alleviate community energy burdens, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector.
Our dedicated team is here to provide guidance and support. For more information on the various programs available, please visit different program pages. You can also contact the Clean Buildings Incentive team at cbpsincentives@commerce.wa.gov for further assistance.
Tier 1 Early Adopter Incentive Program
The Tier 1 Early Adopter Incentive Program is available and applies to non-residential, hotel, motel and dormitory buildings greater than 50,000 ft2. An eligible building owner that demonstrates early compliance with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard may receive a one-time base incentive payment. Incentive funds are limited to $75 million. Reference RCW 19.27A.220 the state energy performance standard for more information.
Tier 1 Early Adopter Incentive Program
Tier 2 Early Adopter Incentive Program
The Tier 2 Early Adopter Incentive Program, which launched on July 1, 2025, covers buildings between 20,000 – 50,001 sq ft, including multifamily residential buildings over 20,000 sq ft. A total of $150 million has been allocated for Tier 2 incentives, with Commerce partnering with Washington State utilities to pay these incentives to building owners. Commerce will review and approve compliance and incentive applications, and the incentive will be paid by the building’s utility provider on a first-come, first-served basis. Click on the link to view the list of participating utilities. There will be a simple application process through the Clean Buildings Portal, so comply and apply early to ensure funding is available.
Tier 2 Early Adopter Incentive Program
Clean Buildings Performance Grants
The Clean Buildings Performance Grants Program provide competitive funding for energy efficiency improvements in private and public buildings. Clean Buildings Performance Grants cut energy costs, reduce pollution, and create jobs in communities across the state. These grants support Tier 1 covered buildings and Tier 1 and Tier 2 covered Public Buildings with compliance with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS).
Clean Building Performance Grants
Energy audits for publicly owned buildings
The Energy Audit Incentive for Public Buildings program has awarded $14.5 million to help publicly owned buildings cover the costs of energy audits necessary for compliance with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS) and the Early Adopter Incentive (EAI) Program. Please note that the program has closed; however, be sure to check back for future funding opportunities.
Energy Audit Incentive for Public Buildings Program
Other funding opportunities
State Project Improvement Grants Program (SPI)
Energy Efficiency Retrofits Grants
Resources
The Tier 1 Early Adopter Incentive Guidebook serves to provide guidelines for the process of applying to the Incentive Program. The full glossary of terms, forms and templates are located in the Clean Buildings Standard. The guidebook does not cover elements of the Clean Buildings Standard that are otherwise covered by law or rule.
Mandatory compliance is detailed in RCW 19.27A.210, which establishes the Clean Buildings Standard, and ASHRAE Standard 100-2018 (link) with Washington State amendments (WAC 194-50).
- Download the Early Adopter Incentive Guidebook (PDF)
- Watch the Guidebook Overview video (YouTube)
Commerce manages the incentive program in collaboration with participating utilities and the Department of Revenue (DOR). Utilities that provide incentive payments to building owners receive a tax credit from the DOR, which can be applied against their Public Utility Tax liability. For more information, please review the Department of Revenue fact sheet (PDF) and the process for claiming credits (PDF). Utilities that do not pay public utility taxes are ineligible to participate in the Early Adopter Incentive Program. Commerce will compile and submit a report of all incentives allocated, by utility, to the DOR. For inquiries related to claiming tax credits, please contact the Taxpay Account Administration at (360)705-3218.
Participation Requirement: Utilities with more than 25,000 customers are mandated to participate in the program. Participation for utilities with fewer than 25,000 customers is voluntary. If a utility decides to voluntarily engage in the incentive programs, no contract with Commerce is necessary. Instead, the utility should email CBPSincentives@commerce.wa.gov to inform Commerce of their participation and provide relevant contact details. Check out the list of Tier 1 incentive participating utilities
Providing Approver Information: Commerce requests that utilities participating in the incentive program send contact information for the individual who will approve incentive payment amounts in the Clean Buildings portal. Please email this information to CBPSincentives@commerce.wa.gov with any updates. Note that a person who is a building owner or acting on behalf of a building owner in the Clean Buildings Portal cannot simultaneously serve as a utility approver in the portal.
What if my utility is not participating? If your utility is not participating, please reach out to them and express your desire to apply for incentives through the Clean Buildings Early Adopter Incentive Program, requesting that they opt into the program.
W9 Requirement: Building owners must provide a completed W9 form to their utility providers in order to receive incentive payments.
Clean Building Performance Standard (CBPS) integrated document (on Smartsheet)
- 19.27A.200 – Definitions
- 19.27A.210 – State energy performance standard
- 19.27A.220 – Early adoption incentive program
- 19.27A.230 – Limit on early adoption incentive payments
- 19.27A.240 – Early adoption incentive payment administration
- Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Preventative Maintenance Guidebook Building Systems Useful Life Table (PDF)
- Energy Star Portfolio Manager
- DOR factsheet (PDF)
- DOR process for claiming credits (PDF)
- HB 1257 2019 session law (PDF)
- Chapter 194-50 WAC
- ASHRAE Standard 100-2018
- ASHRAE Standard 211-2018
- DSIRE
- Guidebook Overview video
- Commercial building incentives and efficiency information from Washington State utilities (PDF)
Office hours
A dedicated space outside of our scheduled trainings and workshops to connect with our Clean Buildings staff, ask questions, talk through scenarios and more. “Office Hours” are held on the 4th Tuesday of every month from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. PT.