Support and Resources
Supporting Roles for Compliance
Commerce serves as the administrator of the Clean Buildings Performance Standard (Standard). We are also here for technical assistance. There can be many personnel contributing to compliance with the standard. Understanding these different roles can help you determine what support you may need to comply.
Any individual can be responsible for more than one of these roles and they can be from within or outside the owner’s organization. The qualified energy auditor and the qualified person are the only defined roles requiring a specific license or certification.
Building personnel consist of building manager, building operator, energy manager, qualified person and qualified energy auditors. A qualified person and qualified energy auditors must meet the minimum credential requirements written in the Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS). A building owner can play any role defined in the standard and holds ultimate responsibility to ensure their building complies with the CBPS.
Click here for additional details about defined roles and responsibilities.
Sign up for or view directories of qualified persons and qualified energy auditors
Commerce is calling on all qualified persons and qualified energy auditors to participate in our voluntary directories. The purpose of each directory is to connect building owners looking to comply with the Standard with individuals who meet the specific credentials required.
Sign up to be included in one or both directories:
Search the directories
There are two specific requirements assigned to the state’s gas and electric utilities.
- RCW 19.27a.170, Benchmarking
This section requires utilities to provide energy consumption data to building owners upon request. Large utilities (greater than 25,000 customers) are required to provide this data using Energy Star Portfolio Managers automated upload protocol. Smaller utilities are to provide the data to building owners in an excel document, meeting Energy Star Portfolio Manager specifications. - RCW 19.27A.220 State energy performance standard -Early adoption incentive program
Commerce is to develop an early adopter incentive program to support building owners making efficiency improvements. This program is administered by Commerce. Large utilities are required to participate by making incentive payments to building owners. The incentive payments, plus administrative fees, are then deducted from the utilities public utility tax. Smaller utilities’ participation in the incentive program is optional.
Various organizations, including electric and gas utility companies throughout Washington state have literature, incentives and programs designed to support commercial customers to comply with or exceed the Standard.
Below are links to utility programs and their offerings:
- Avista Clean Buildings support
- City of Bellevue Clean Buildings Incentive Program
- Pacific Power Benchmarking program
- Pacific Power Clean Buildings support
- Puget Sound Energy Accelerator program
- Seattle Clean Buildings Accelerator
- Smart Buildings Center Help Desk
- SnoPUD Clean Buildings resources
- Tacoma Power Clean Buildings support
If there are any training or certification programs that need to be added to this resources section, please contact us at buildings@commerce.wa.gov
Quick Links
Compliance Deadlines
Tier 1 buildings reporting schedule:
June 1, 2026
More than 220,000 sq. ft.
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June 1, 2027
More 90,000 sq. ft. but less than 220,001 sq. ft
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June 1, 2028
More 50,000 sq. ft. but less than 90,001 sq. ft
Upcoming Events
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Resources that Support Compliance
- Documents that used to be found here are all now available in the Clean Buildings Document Library
- Certificates of Participation
- C-PACER programs (Shift Zero)
- C-PACER (King County)
- Commercial buildings energy efficiency tax deduction
- Financing Energy Efficiency Projects
- Find Financing for Your Energy Project
- Green Revolving Funds
- LOCAL Programs
- Utility Energy Efficiency and Incentive Program Links (PDF)
- Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
The training workshops linked below were sponsored by Avista, Clark PUD, Puget Sound Energy, Snohomish County PUD and Tacoma Power.
- Better Buildings Webinars
- Clean Buildings 101
- Clean Buildings Portal – Full Access user guide (PDF)
- Compliance by meeting the EUIt
- Early Adopter Incentive Program Guidebook overview
- How to Determine your Building’s EUIt
- Q&A Session: Compliance Paths 9/13/2022
- Smart Building Center Remote Learning Library
- WSU RCM Webinar: Clean Buildings Performance Standard
- WSU RCM Webinar: Energy Management Plans for Clean Buildings
- WSU RCM Webinar: Operations and Maintenance for Clean Buildings
- WSU RCM Webinar: Tune-ups for Clean Buildings
- Compliance by Meeting the Energy Use Intensity Target
- Compliance through the Investment Criteria
Form F: Life Cycle Analysis (LCCA) Tool
The Investment Criteria Tool (Form F) is the LCCA tool specific to the Clean Buildings Performance Standard, although similar, the LCCA tool published by OFM/DES is not interchangeable.
- AEE Certified Professionals Directory
- AIA 2030 Commitment Signatory Firms
- Building Owner Resources (PDF)
- Case Studies (PDF)
- Commerce Business Grants and Loans
- Directory of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE)
- Live Q&A Archive (PDF)
- RCM News: articles, training, and events for Resource Conservation and Energy Managers
- Washington State Energy Office
- ASHRAE 100 Users’ Guide
Please note: This User’s Guide may not fully capture nor reflect the WA state amendments to Standard 100, as required by law. Please download and review the Integrated Document for further details.
