Executive Order 20-01 created the State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP) Office. SEEP works with state agencies to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate toxic materials from state agency operations. The SEEP Office supports and guides state agency efforts related to electric vehicles (EVs), energy efficient and zero energy facilities, sustainable purchasing and clean electricity. It identifies and pursues opportunities to fund cost-effective improvements in state agency environmental performance.
State agency efforts
Buildings are the largest overall contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from state agency operations. To meet GHG limits established in RCW 70A.45.050, state agencies will need to reduce the carbon intensity of the buildings they own and operate.
The SEEP Office promotes energy efficiency in owned and leased facilities and supports the development of new construction that meets the zero-energy building standard in Executive Order 20-01 (State Efficiency and Environmental Performance). SEEP also brings state agency partners together in two buildings-focused working groups and provides consultation and technical assistance on business processes that relate to reducing building related GHGs.
Resources
State fleet vehicles are a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To meet GHG limits established in RCW 70A.45.050, state agencies need to transition fleet vehicles to battery-electric options.
The State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP) Office is responsible for implementing Executive Order 21-04 (Zero Emission Vehicles) in partnership with the Department of Enterprise Services (DES). To rapidly transition state fleets to battery electric vehicles, SEEP has established vehicle purchase exemption criteria, leads a comprehensive planning and implementation process, and supports investment in Battery Electric Vehicles and EV charging at state facilities.
Questions?
For questions related to state fleet vehicle electrification, please contact Zero Emissions Vehicle Program Manager Seth Kolodziejski by emailing Seth.Kolo@Commerce.wa.gov or calling 360-688-8189.
Washington is committed to leading by example in the work to slow global climate change. RCW 70A.45.050 directs state agencies to meet specific greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) limits, culminating in a 95% reduction below 2005 levels by 2050.
Recent changes to this statute will help link greenhouse gas emissions reporting to agency decision-making by requiring agencies to identify strategies to meet emissions limits and by highlighting priority actions to reduce emissions. SEEP works closely with the Department of Ecology to support strategy development, analyze GHG emissions data, and use performance metrics to achieve these limits.
RCW 70A.45.050 requires state agencies to report GHG emissions using an emissions calculator provided by the Department of Ecology and a GHG emissions reduction strategy template provided by SEEP.
Please submit the state agency 2025 GHG Reduction Strategy update form.
Instructions for completing these reporting requirements can be found on Ecology’s website for State Agency GHG Emissions Reporting.
Resources
Environmentally preferred purchasing (also known as green or sustainable purchasing) is a systematic approach to decreasing the environmental impact of state agencies’ supply chains while delivering cost-effective goods and materials in order to serve people in Washington. SEEP and the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) provide resources, training, and technical support to state agency purchasing offices.
At the direction of Gov. Inslee, the SEEP Office and Governing Council are pursuing opportunities to reduce the amount of single-use plastics purchased and used in state government operations.
Purchasing resources
Resources
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Children, Youth and Families
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Corrections
- Department of Ecology
- Department of Enterprise Services
- Department of Health
- Department of Natural Resources
- Department of Social and Health Services
- Department of Transportation
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Labor and Industries
- Liquor and Cannabis Board
- Washington State Patrol
Executive Order 20-01
SEEP Governing Council
- Purpose: Executive governing body for SEEP
- SEEP Contribution: Agenda, Notes, Follow up, Newsletter
SEEP Guidance Team
- Purpose: State agency subject matter experts. Primarily focused on greenhouse gas emissions reporting. Also provides analytical expertise to working groups, governing council and SEEP office. The Guidance Team can bring forth ideas, policy development and other concepts to the Governing Council for consideration. The team also provides expertise on greenhouse gas emissions reduction and reporting in accordance with RCW 70A.45.050.
- SEEP Contribution: Agenda, Follow up
New Facilities Working Group
- Purpose: Support and incentivize Zero Energy/Zero Energy Capable construction for new state facilities
- SEEP Contribution: Agenda, Notes, Follow up
Current Facilities Working Group
- Purpose: Implementation of plans to reduce energy use in state-owned and leased facilities
- SEEP Contribution: Agenda, Notes, Follow up
Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Work Group
- Purpose: Produce guidance to ensure compliance for environmentally preferred purchasing
- SEEP Contribution: Agenda, Notes, Follow up
Budget and Finance Working Group
- Purpose: Align fiscal policies to support emissions reduction and carbon sequestration efforts.
- SEEP Contribution: Agenda, Notes, Follow up
Zero Emission Vehicles Working Group
- Purpose: Implementation of plans to electrify state fleet. Space for interagency collaboration.
- SEEP Contribution: Notes, Follow up
Executive Order 21-04
DES/SEEP Core Team
- Purpose: Focused meeting on implementation
- SEEP Contribution: Agenda, Notes, Follow up
Zero Emission Vehicles Pre-Meet
- Purpose: Agenda and topic creation for working group meetings
- SEEP Contribution: Agenda, Education and training resources
Zero Emission Vehicles Working Group
- Purpose: Implementation of plans to electrify state fleet. Space for interagency collaboration.
- SEEP Contribution: Notes, Follow up
Interagency Electric Vehicles Coordinating Council
- Purpose: Formal meeting related to statewide transportation electrification.
- SEEP Contribution: Participation
Calendar layout detailing SEEP reporting deadlines for various initiatives in 2024 and 2025:
- 2024 deadlines in the GHG reporting category include:
- GHG Reduction Strategies reporting period is from March – May 31
- GHG Reporting Calculator reporting period is from April 11 – May 31
- 2024 deadlines in the Budget and Finance category include:
- Carbon Reduction Investment Budget reporting period is from Oct. 1 – Dec. 8
- 2024 deadlines in the Fleets reporting category include:
- ZEV Annual Reporting reporting period is from Oct. 1 -Dec. 15
- 2025 deadlines in the GHG reporting category include:
- GHG Reduction Strategies Updates reporting period is from April 11 – May 31
- GHG Reporting Calculator reporting period is from April 11 – May 31
- 2025 deadlines in the Budget and Finance category include:
- Carbon Reduction Investment Budget reporting period is from Oct. 1 – Dec. 8
- 2025 deadlines in the Fleets reporting category include:
- ZEV Implementation Plan Update reporting period is from July 1 – Dec. 1
- ZEV Annual Reporting period is from Oct. 1 – Dec. 15
Other reporting deadlines:
Benchmarking Report: Due in June – July (even years). For more details, please visit the DES benchmarking website.
Clean Buildings Performance Standards: Compliance deadlines begin in June 2026 for buildings over 220,000 square feet. Visit the Department of Commerce Clean Buildings website for a detailed list of reporting requirements and compliance deadlines.
*Note: Dates are subject to change as needed.
- Buy Clean Buy Fair Washington Project: Final Report
- Direct Pay Essentials Training for Washington state agencies
- 21-04 Exemption Form
- SEEP Idea Form (Word)
- SEEP Sustainability Policy and Procedures Assistance Form (Word)
- SEEP Sustainability Policy and Procedures Assistance Form (PDF)
- Zero-Emissions Capable (ZE-C) Project Survey