Washington state’s cities and the state are making policies and creating incentives to advance energy efficiency, electrify buildings, expand use of renewable gas and support long-term plans for the transition away from use of fossil gas in our homes and commercial buildings.
On Feb. 1, the city of Seattle adopted improvements to Seattle’s Commercial Energy Code. This update affects new and extensively renovated commercial and large multifamily buildings. It ensures that the newest buildings in Seattle are using the most current energy-saving technology so that we’re making the best use of our Seattle City Light electricity.
These updates also eliminate most uses of polluting fossil fuel-fired water and space heating equipment in favor of more efficient electric heat pumps and hot water heaters.
Through the involvement of residents, community advocates and those in the building and design industry, these improvements to the energy code passed, leading the city one step closer to achieving its climate goals. Taking these meaningful steps will help our construction workforce be competitive, make our newest buildings healthy and climate-resilient and keep us from digging the hole on climate deeper.
Addressing the energy code for these large buildings is something all cities in Washington can consider when contemplating how to meet climate goals. This strategy, as well as other policies and incentive-driven programs are highlighted in Shift Zero’s newly released Zero Carbon Policy Toolkit for local government.
However, there is much more to do to address climate pollution from buildings.
We need to retrofit existing buildings to operate more efficiently and to phase out fossil fuels. And, we need to work in coordination with policies and funding for equitable development and building a sustainable and diverse workforce. Local governments can’t go at it alone — they need supportive policy and funding from the state, as well as from our new federal administration.
In the state legislative session underway now, Gov. Jay Inslee put forward a bold climate strategy for how to comprehensively address climate pollution. This proposal took a deep look at how we use fossil fuels in our buildings statewide. To continue to expand support for more local action like what is happening in Seattle, we need more opportunities like this to bring everyone to the table.
Transitioning away from fossil fuels in our buildings won’t happen overnight and it will not be easy. We need clear-eyed planning, market, and regulatory reform that includes all stakeholders, investment in renewable gas alternatives, more use of energy efficiency, electrification infrastructure changes, and a smooth industry transition. This is the kind of engagement and dialogue that needs to happen at all levels of government.
We need a plan and a pathway for addressing climate pollution from all of our buildings and this needs to happen with the gas and electric utility industry alongside the building sector and communities at the forefront. With this partnership, and with long-term planning we can prepare our electric system, and allow our gas utilities to continue to provide non-fossil gas energy services to Washingtonians.
