Stay Compliant with

Washington State Clean Buildings Performance Standards

In Washington, mid- to large-sized commercial and multifamily buildings are required to comply with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS), and key compliance deadlines are quickly approaching.

What is CBPS ?

The Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS) is a state-mandated energy efficiency law in Washington State that requires certain commercial and multifamily buildings to: Measure, Report, and Reduce their energy consumption to meet performance targets aimed at lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

KEY BENEFITS OF CBPS (Clean Buildings Performance Standards)

Benefits to Owners

The Clean Buildings Performance Standard helps owners reduce energy costs, increase building value, and qualify for state incentives. Early compliance also avoids fines and improves long-term asset performance.

Benefits to Local Government

CBPS supports Washington State’s climate goals by lowering emissions from buildings - the state’s second-largest source of carbon. Improved efficiency in private buildings helps cities meet sustainability targets.

Benefits to Developers

Compliance with CBPS creates more marketable, energy-efficient buildings, giving developers a competitive edge. It also ensures new properties meet current and future energy performance standards.

Tier 1

The Clean Buildings Performance Standard is mandatory for Tier 1 covered buildings located in the state of Washington. A Tier 1 covered building is a building where the sum of nonresidential, hotel, motel and dormitory floor area exceeds 50,000 gross square feet, excluding the parking garage area. Mandatory compliance and reporting for Tier 1 covered buildings begins June 2026 for buildings greater than 220,000 sq ft.

Tier 1 compliance requirements:

Benchmark by measuring and tracking energy use in a building over time.
Implement an operations and maintenance (O&M) program in accordance with the standard.
Create an energy management plan (EMP).
Building Size: 50,000 sq ft or more.
Compliance Status: Mandatory (Deadlines: 2026–2028)

Develop and implement:

Develop and implement the Energy Management Plan (EMP) and associated Operations and Maintenance Program (O&M) for each building as outlined in Sections 5 and 6 of the Clean Building Performance Standard. This step can happen concurrently with benchmarking.

Energy Management Plan (EMP):

The EMP template acts as a framework for building energy management planning in relation to the requirements of the CBPS. This optional resource can be used by building owners, authorized representatives, energy managers, or qualified persons to guide the creation of the energy management plan for Tier 1 or Tier 2 covered buildings.

An EMP outlines an organization’s goals for their building’s energy performance, tracks actual energy use of the building, reports historical energy use intensity (EUI) metrics compared to the building’s energy use intensity target (EUIt), and incorporates O&M protocols to ensure the building is operating as efficiently as possible.

O&M (Operations & Maintenance) Requirement:

Who Tier 1 Applies To:

Tier 1 reporting schedule

Tier 2

The Clean Buildings Performance Standard is mandatory for Tier 2 covered buildings located in the state of Washington. On March 25, 2022, Governor Inslee signed the Clean Buildings expansion bill into law to include Tier 2 covered buildings. A Tier 2 building is a building where the sum of multifamily residential, nonresidential, hotel, motel and dormitory floor areas exceeds 20,000 gross square feet, but does not exceed 50,000 gross square feet, excluding the parking garage area. Tier 2 covered buildings also include multifamily residential buildings where floor areas are equal to or exceed 50,000 gross square feet, excluding the parking garage area.

Tier 2 compliance requirements:

Benchmarking by measuring and tracking energy use in a building over time.
Implementing an operations and maintenance program. Develop a routine plan to maintain your building systems (HVAC, lighting, insulation, etc.) efficiently. Regular maintenance reduces energy waste and extends equipment life.
Creating an energy management plan.
Building Size: 20,000–49,999 sq ft
Compliance Status: Voluntary (for now)

Who Tier 2 Applies To:

Tier 2 reporting schedule

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there additional incentive funds available for Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings?

Yes, see the CBPS Incentives & Savings page for more information

What is a Public Building?

Public Buildings are buildings owned by State Agencies, School and Health Districts, Colleges and Cities, Municipalities and Counties (this does not include buildings owned by a non-profit, even if the non-profit is funded by a public agency).

What is the Clean Buildings Portal?

The Clean Buildings Portal is a database of all covered buildings. It provides building owners with a secure system to manage their building’s compliance with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard and submit applications to the Early Adopter Incentive Program. Please note: Features for Tier 2 will not be available until after July 2025.

What are the penalties for not coming under compliance?

For Tier 1, the maximum penalty is $5,000 plus an amount based on the duration of any continuing violation. The additional amount for a continuing violation may not exceed $1.50 per square foot. For more details, refer to Z5.4 Assessment of Administrative Penalties in the Clean Buildings Performance Standard.

For Tier 2, the maximum penalty is $0.30 per square foot. For more details, refer to Y5.4 Assessment of Administrative Penalties in the Clean Buildings Performance Standard.

Commerce also has a penalty calculator: CBPS 015- CBPS Penalties Estimator.xlsx | Powered by Box. Penalties are assessed for each 5-year compliance period.

Let’s Get You Compliant

Avoid Penalties.

Stay Ahead of Deadlines.

CBPS compliance isn’t just about following the law it’s about protecting your investment. We’ll guide you through every step: benchmarking, audits, reports, and submission.

CBPS compliance Deadline: Avoid continued penalties or fines by filing your report today!