Recently, we asked building owners to share their Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS) compliance success stories. Olympia School District shares how they utilized many of the support programs available to achieve successful CBPS compliance in several of their buildings so far.
“We have been fortunate to work with our utility provider, Puget Sound Energy, through their Clean Buildings Accelerator program. We began this program in 2021 as a way to develop energy reduction actions that could have a lasting impact on our fiscal and environmental health while preparing for CBPS compliance.
“This program helped open doors to other opportunities like the Commercial Strategic Energy Management (CSEM) program where we actively look for opportunities to reduce our reliance on electricity and fossil fuels. We were also able to receive grants to employ two Climate Corp Fellows. We utilized two Climate Corp Fellows to assist in the data compilation and meter verification process for all of our district sites.
“Alongside our Maintenance and Grounds Supervisor, they reviewed building plans and developed a template we could utilize for our compliance Energy Management Plans as well as our Operations and Maintenance documents. We’ve been able to adapt our original plan to gain early adopter compliance for 4 of our 22 sites and are currently working through our fifth site.
“We’ve also realized financial early adopter incentives for two of our four sites. Commerce continues to support our efforts as they have from the beginning of our journey.
“We’re grateful for the resources they provide while going through the compliance process. They’re supportive and helpful with the many questions we’ve asked along the way. They provide this support without making us feel like we should already know the answers.”
If your building has successfully met compliance with the CBPS and you would like to have your building featured in an upcoming bulletin and other Commerce communication, please fill out this short questionnaire.