FAQs

Search below to find the answers to frequently asked questions. If you can't find the answer you need on this page, email the BEPS team at cleanbuildings@seattle.gov.

Compliance Details

• What BEPS deadlines do I need to prepare for?
• How is greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) defined and calculated?
• What is the GHG Report and what does it require?

Interactions with Existing City and State Policies

• Is Seattle BEPS the same as the Washington Clean Building Performance Standard (WA CBPS)?
• Will the City continue to require Building Tune-Ups after buildings have to comply with BEPS?
• Do the new BEPS Benchmarking Verification requirements supersede the existing Energy Benchmarking requirements?
• How are residential condos treated under BEPS? And how does that differ from the Washington Clean Building Performance Standards (CBPS)?

Benchmarking Verification and ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager

• How will Benchmarking Verification work? Will Seattle continue to use ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for benchmarking?
• Who can conduct Benchmarking Verification?
• What is a Qualified Person for BEPS?
• Why does ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (ESPM) use different emissions factors than City of Seattle for BEPS?
• If my building has an ENERGY STAR Certification, am I exempt from BEPS?

Alternative Compliance Payments and Noncompliance Penalties

• Can building owners comply with BEPS by making a payment?
• When and how are penalties for noncompliance assessed?
• When are Alternative Compliance Payments (ACP) due?

Deductions, Extensions, and Exemptions

• What deductions are available?
• How does BEPS handle cooking equipment in restaurants and residential buildings?
• Can buildings deduct their emissions generated from a private district thermal energy provider (e.g., CenTrio steam)? What do building owners need to do to be eligible for that deduction?
• Will newly constructed buildings or buildings under construction need to comply with BEPS?
• My building uses only electric energy. Do I still need to comply with BEPS?
• Do single family homes need to comply with BEPS?
• Do LEED certified buildings need to comply with BEPS?
• How do I verify that my building is industrial or manufacturing and thus not covered by BEPS?

Renewable Energy and Energy Supply

• Can I use RECs or offsets, or retire carbon credits to meet the building’s GHGI targets?
• Can I use Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) or biodiesel for BEPS compliance?
• Does City Light have any studies about their ability to provide enough electric power in the future?
• How do we get to zero carbon emissions if City Light’s electricity is not carbon-free?

Miscellaneous

• Is the City providing support for building owners and small businesses?
• Is the City funding any emissions reduction projects in privately owned buildings?

Compliance Details

What BEPS deadlines do I need to prepare for?
By 2027, owners of buildings greater than 90,000 square feet (SF) must complete Benchmarking Verification, which includes having a Qualified Person verify the building’s previous year’s energy and emissions data to ensure accuracy. They also must complete a GHG Report that includes reporting current emissions performance and building equipment and estimating a 2031 emissions (GHGI) target. By 2031, buildings greater than 220,000 SF must meet initial GHGI targets. Smaller buildings have a longer runway to meet targets (see table below). That said, it is not too soon to get prepared — it can take three or more years to meet the GHGI targets. Resources like the Seattle Clean Buildings Accelerator provide free technical support for building owners and managers to get on the path to compliance. 

How is greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) defined and calculated?
GHGI is a measurement of a covered building's annual greenhouse gas emissions from its energy use relative to its size. GHGI, which is typically expressed as kgCO₂e/SF/yr, is calculated by including all the different energy or fuel sources used in the building (e.g., electricity, gas, steam, etc.), and then looking at total usage. Each type of energy source has an emissions factor (a measure its carbon emissions), which is multiplied by the use to obtain the building’s total greenhouse gas emissions, which is measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e). To get the GHGI, the greenhouse gas (GHG) amount is divided by the building’s total gross floor area (see example below). To learn more, check out this GHGI and Seattle BEPS emissions factors fact sheet. This GHGI webinar also includes a short demo of how to calculate GHGI and GHGI targets. Jump to 51:45 to watch it. 

What is the GHG Report and what does it require?
The GHG Report details a building’s journey towards BEPS compliance and its plan to meet future greenhouse gas intensity targets (GHGIT). It must be completed by a Qualified Person per a building’s compliance schedule, potentially as early as 2027.

The report will be in a form to be developed during Rulemaking in early 2025 and it will be available on a new online reporting portal under development. OSE intends to streamline the report as much as possible to focus on elements which OSE would need to confirm compliance, including:

• The GHGIT and the compliance GHGI estimated for the 2031–2035 interval;
• Documentation of the high-level actions recommended to meet the GHGITs for 2031–2035;
• Documentation for any approved alternative compliance option the owner plans to use for 2031–2035 compliance, including baseline GHGIs and alternate GHGITs, and the list of individual buildings in a building portfolio, district campus, or connected buildings that are included in any aggregate or alternate GHGIT calculations;
• Documentation for any approved extensions or exemptions (if applicable);
• Documentation of any end-use deductions allowed and used for calculating the estimated compliance GHGI for 2031–2035;
• A list of major building mechanical equipment, such as equipment used for space heating and cooling, water heating, cooking, and other activities, and their age and fuel sources;
• An outline of the actions recommended for the building to meet subsequent GHGITs; and
• Any additional information required per OSE’s forthcoming Director's Rule.

OSE will review the report and then confirm or deny compliance. OSE will seek feedback on the content in rulemaking.

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Interactions with Existing City and State Policies

Is Seattle BEPS the same as the Washington Clean Building Performance Standard (WA CBPS)?
No. Both laws are building performance standards, but WA CBPS is an energy standard while BEPS is an emissions standard. In other words, WA CBPS seeks to reduce the overall amount of energy a building uses, but BEPS focuses on reducing emissions. The key metric for WA CBPS is the Energy Use Intensity (EUI), which is measured in thousands of British thermal units per square foot per year (kBtu/SF/yr), while BEPS tracks Greenhouse Gas Intensity (GHGI), measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per square foot per year (kgCO₂e/SF/yr). Both laws require buildings to lower their respective energy or emissions metrics over time. 

The two laws are similar in intent but have different deadlines and requirements — being in compliance with one does not mean your building has complied with the other. You can learn more about the WA CBPS on the Commerce Department’s website, which is the entity owners must report to for WA CBPS compliance. The City of Seattle will only accept compliance reporting for BEPS. 

Will the City continue to require Building Tune-Ups after buildings have to comply with BEPS?
The Seattle Building Tune-Ups ordinance expires on 12/31/2028. Before the law sunsets, building owners must complete a second cycle tune-up. There will be no third tune-up cycle. The second cycle tune-up deadlines are: 

• Cohort 1 (200k+ SF) due 10/1/23 

• Cohort 2 (100–199k SF) due 10/1/24 

• Cohort 3 (70–99k SF) due 10/1/25 

• Cohort 4 (50–69k SF) due 10/1/26  

As the City’s Building Tune-Up ordinance ends, the Washington State Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS) Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Program requirements begin. Timing the close of the Tune-Up ordinance with the start of the CBPS eliminates overlap between the City’s and State’s O&M mandates and lowers compliance costs while maintaining laws designed to encourage better buildings’ performance. 

Do the new BEPS Benchmarking Verification requirements supersede the existing Energy Benchmarking requirements?
No. The existing energy benchmarking and reporting is due annually on June 1. Data for calendar year 2024, for example, will be due on June 1, 2025. 

BEPS adds a Benchmarking Verification requirement, which starts 2027–2030, depending on building size.  

In short, the two requirements are complementary. Benchmarking is still required every year, but with the new BEPS ordinance requiring verification every fifth year to improve data accuracy. 

How are residential condos treated under BEPS? And how does that differ from the Washington Clean Building Performance Standards (CBPS)?
Seattle BEPS covers residential condominium buildings as multifamily building greater than 20,000 SF, and the Seattle BEPS definition of owner includes condo associations: 

• "Building owner" means an individual or entity possessing a fee interest in a covered building. Where a condominium is subject to this Chapter 22.925, "building owner" means the owners' association, except that, where the powers of an owners' association are exercised by or delegated to a master association, "building owner" means the master association. 

• This means that residential condominiums will need to comply with all BEPS reporting, verification, and emissions reductions requirements, beginning in 2027–2030 (depending on building size).

• However, the emissions from any fossil fuel equipment located within an individually-owned residential unit in a multifamily condominium building can be deducted from the building’s emissions. In other words, in-unit equipment like gas stoves, fireplaces, etc., in a residential condo are not covered, but commonly owned heating equipment like a boiler that serves all units are covered by Seattle BEPS. See ordinance: SMC 22.925.120 — End use deductions.

• Furthermore, residential condominiums can meet the Seattle BEPS electric-only building exemption when all space and water heating systems, and other equipment and appliances, under common ownership use only electric energy sources. In other words, if the only gas use in the building is in the condo units, like gas stoves or fireplaces, the building could use the exemption. See ordinance: SMC 22.925.110 — Extensions and exemptions.

• Condo owners do not need to report to the City — the HOA or their designees are responsible for putting together an aggregated report for the whole building. 

The Washington CBPS, however, does not include individual condo units. A building will only be covered under the law if the condominium has common space or facilities owned by an individual or an owners’ association entity such as: a community area, clubhouse, recreation center, pool, athletic facilities, restaurant, shopping, etc. with floor area exceeding the Tier 1 threshold of 50,000 gross square feet or Tier 2 threshold of 20,000. Only then does the condo building need to comply with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard (Tier 1 or Tier 2). Even if the common space or facilities are large enough to be covered, the individual units are not covered and the requirements only apply to the common areas.  

Important: if the building is sent a notification letter from the State indicating it is a Tier 1 or Tier 2 building, the condo association (or their designee) must contact Commerce to confirm if they are required to apply for an exemption via the Clean Buildings Portal. For additional questions about the State CBPS, please submit a Clean Buildings Program Customer Support Ticket to the WA Department of Commerce. 

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Benchmarking Verification and ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager

How will Benchmarking Verification work? Will Seattle continue to use ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for benchmarking?
Benchmarking Verification is a required component of complying with BEPS to accurately establish the covered building’s GHGI. Every five years, a Qualified Person must verify emissions and energy performance of the covered building and correct any errors, if needed. This is critical to evaluate if a building is on track to meet required emissions performance targets. 

Seattle will continue to use ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for energy benchmarking and will develop a Benchmarking Verification report. 

Who can conduct Benchmarking Verification?
Building owners are required to have a Qualified Person (see qualifications below) verify the accuracy of the covered building's reported ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager benchmarking data for the previous calendar year (January 1–December 31) every five years at BEPS compliance deadlines. The Qualified Person must be a different person than the person who prepared and submitted the annual Energy Benchmarking report, but may be an in-house employee of the owner.

What is a Qualified Person for BEPS?
A Qualified Person — meaning a person having training, expertise, at least three years professional experience in building energy use analysis, and any of the following certifications or licenses — will be required for Benchmarking Verification and to fulfill all BEPS reporting requirements with the exception of certain applications for extensions or exemptions. The WA CBPS uses the same expertise and certifications, so owners may use the same person or firm for meeting both laws. 

• Licensed professional architect or engineer in the State of Washington 

• Building Energy Assessment Professional (BEAP) certified by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 

• Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) certified by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)  

• Building Operator Certification (BOC) Level II by Building Potential

• Certified Commissioning Professional (CCP) who is certified by an ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024:2012 accredited organization 

• Certified Energy Manager (CEM) in current standing certified by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) 

• Energy Management Professional (EMP) certified by the Energy Management Association 

• Sustainable Building Science Technology Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree 

Owners of covered buildings that have in-house employees meeting Qualified Person expertise may utilize those persons for reporting. For example, a sustainability manager that is a C.E.M. Or owners may establish a scope of work with a service provider of their choosing. 

Why does ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (ESPM) use different emissions factors than City of Seattle for BEPS?
While ESPM currently calls their GHG metric “location-based,” the emissions factor used is based on the large Northwest Power Plan electric grid. This grid is well beyond the limits of Seattle City Light territory (into Idaho and Montana, for example) and includes dirtier fossil fuels used in electric generation. See this reference from ESPM.  

In contrast, City Light’s grid is about 93% renewable energy and thus very low emissions relative to gas and steam in Seattle. This means the local utility emissions factor is significantly lower than ESPM’s regional figure. 

ESPM announced they will soon be enabling users to import local factors like those used in the Seattle BEPS ordinance. OSE is also reviewing reporting tools that will use our local factors. 

If my building has an ENERGY STAR Certification, am I exempt from BEPS?
Since Seattle BEPS is an emissions standard, ENERGY STAR, which is a measure of energy efficiency, does not apply. There is not an exemption path. 

ENERGY STAR is, however, an alternate compliance path for the Building Tune-Ups requirement.  

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Alternative Compliance Payments and Noncompliance Penalties

Can building owners comply with BEPS by making a payment?
For the first compliance interval (2031–2035) only, building owners may make an Alternative Compliance Payment (ACP). The ACP is based on the total metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO₂e) of the compliance GHGI that exceeds the GHGI target multiplied by the social cost of carbon (currently set in the ordinance at $190 per MT) for the five years of the compliance interval. 

The ACP is not a chance to opt-out of emissions reductions, but instead a short-term deferral option for owners that need flexibility while they plan for decarbonization. Buildings that fail to meet GHGI targets or comply with an approved alternative compliance pathway in 2036–2040 and beyond will be assessed a penalty. Alternative compliance payments must be submitted by the building’s compliance deadline and calculated based on the building's compliance GHGI. The payment is submitted once but calculated to cover the sum of emissions over the five-year compliance period.  

Revenue from alternative compliance payments will be spent on programs and activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, including technical and financial assistance to building owners and tenants with at least 40 percent of the revenue collected prioritized towards buildings serving people with low or no incomes and communities historically most harmed by economic, racial, and environmental injustice. More details about using the ACP will be determined during BEPS rulemaking. 

When and how are penalties for noncompliance assessed?
Penalties are imposed 360 days after the compliance date. So, if the owner of a building over 220,000 SF fails to meet the greenhouse gas intensity target by Oct. 1, 2031, then they could be penalized in September of 2032 at a rate of up to $10/SF for nonresidential buildings, $7.50/SF for multifamily buildings, or $2.50/SF for affordable housing. If the building owner fails to report or submits an inaccurate report, they could be assessed a penalty of up to $15,000 or $7,500, dependent on whether the building is larger or smaller than 50,000 square feet, respectively. Section 22.925.180, Penalties, in the adopted legislation provides more detail.   

The penalty is assessed once per 5-year compliance interval, not annually or for each 5-years. For building owners that can demonstrate the building is making progress towards meeting the target, but have not yet met it, they can ask for penalties to be mitigated through an appeal process.  

When are Alternative Compliance Payments (ACP) due?
An ACP would need to be submitted by the compliance deadlines according to building size. For instance, for a 100,000 SF building, the payment would be submitted by Oct. 1, 2032. The payment is submitted just once, but the required payment is calculated to cover the sum of emissions over a five-year period. Building owners may need to apply to use the ACP in advance of the Oct. 1 compliance deadline. The timing to submit the application will be determined as part of rulemaking. 

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Deductions, Exemptions, and Extensions

What deductions are available?
In the table below are the deductions available. Listed emissions can be deducted from your building's GHGI if the building meets all requirements.

How does BEPS handle cooking equipment in restaurants and residential buildings?
BEPS includes an allowance for deducting fossil fuel (natural gas or propane) cooking emissions for the first two compliance periods (2031–2035 and 2036–2040), so there is no immediate need or requirement to replace any cooking equipment.  

This provision was incorporated into the ordinance based on outreach to restaurant owners and residential tenants who expressed concern about the cost of upgrading cooking equipment to electric. The table above summarizes the deductions.  

Can buildings deduct their emissions generated from a private district thermal energy provider (e.g., CenTrio steam)? What do building owners need to do to be eligible for that deduction?
Yes, building owners may deduct the emissions generated from a private district thermal energy provider (steam, hot water and/or chilled water) from compliance GHGI for the 2031–2035 compliance period only. After 2035, these emissions can no longer be deducted from compliance GHGI. 

To be eligible for this deduction, building owners must have an active contract with a private district thermal energy provider that was established prior to June 1, 2024, and that continues through the first compliance date (2031–2035).  

Further, a building with an existing contract with a private district thermal energy provider that was established prior to June 1, 2024, and that is then sold after June 1, 2024, may still qualify to use the 2031–2035 deduction in as long as the new building owner continues receiving district thermal energy and has established a contract with the same thermal energy provider (or their successor). The City recognizes that buildings may have changes of ownership prior to the 2031–2035 compliance period. BEPS rulemaking will address the required documentation and processes for using emissions deductions. 

Will newly constructed buildings or buildings under construction need to comply with BEPS?
A newly constructed building may receive an extension from all BEPS requirements for one compliance interval. Building owners must provide evidence of new construction in the form of a Certificate of Occupancy dated no more than three years before the building’s compliance date and a construction permit issued by the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI). BEPS rulemaking will address the details and processes for extensions, and OSE will develop a short form to apply, likely similar to what is already required for Building Tune-Ups.

My building uses only electric energy. Do I still need to comply with BEPS?
All buildings greater than 20,000 SF (regardless of fuel use) are still required to annually benchmark and report energy data per the existing energy benchmarking requirements. Under BEPS, Benchmarking Verification will be required every 5 years, starting in 2027.  

If Benchmarking Verification confirms that a building uses only electric energy, that building will be exempt from needing to submit a GHG Report and meeting the greenhouse gas intensity targets. BEPS rulemaking will address the details and processes for exemptions and Benchmarking Verification.  

Do single-family homes need to comply with BEPS?
No, BEPS only applies to multifamily and commercial buildings greater than 20,000 square feet. Single family homes are not subject to the ordinance. The City of Seattle encourages decarbonizing single-family homes by transitioning from fossil fuels for space, water heating and other appliances to more efficient, electric equipment. The City’s Clean Heat Program offers instant rebates and no-cost conversions for income-qualified households heating with oil. More resources about home electrification including rebates and tax incentives can be found at The Switch Is On, a non-profit organization partner with the City. 

How do I verify that my building is industrial or manufacturing and thus not covered by BEPS?
Yes, LEED certified buildings are required to comply with BEPS. Since the Seattle BEPS is an emissions standard, other measurements of high performing buildings do not qualify as a compliance path. However, BEPS has provisions for buildings that have extenuating circumstances that may make it harder for them to meet the BEPS GHGI targets or timeline. For example, buildings may be eligible for a net-zero decarbonization compliance plan if meeting the GHGIT requires HVAC or DHW equipment already vested under the Seattle Energy Code by the effective ordinance date and that equipment has not yet reached a defined percentage of life expectancy (exact percentage to be determined in rulemaking). Learn more about net-zero decarbonization compliance plans on Slide 27 of this presentation.

How do I verify that my building is industrial or manufacturing and thus not covered by BEPS?
Specifics about how to claim that a building is not covered by BEPS as an industrial and manufacturing building will be finalized during BEPS Rulemaking in 2025.

BEPS will, however, likely follow the same guidelines as Energy Benchmarking for industrial and manufacturing buildings which are as follows:

Buildings used primarily for manufacturing or industrial purposes, as demonstrated by submitting one of the following:

1. A valid Certificate of Occupancy or construction permit documenting that at least 50% of the building is classified under the Seattle Building Code as Factory Industrial Group F. This includes buildings used for assembling, disassembling, fabricating, finishing, manufacturing, packaging, repair, or processing operations.
2. OSE’s benchmarking exemption form, in which the Building Owner has verified that
   1. Neither they nor OSE staff have been able to locate a Certificate of Occupancy for their building; and
   2. Their building meets the definition of a Factory Industrial Group F building as classified in the Seattle Building Code.

   We expect that claiming the building is not covered under BEPS may be done by the owner — rather than a Qualified Person — but that will be finalized in Rulemaking.

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   Renewable Energy and Energy Supply

   Can I use RECs or offsets, or retire carbon credits to meet the building’s GHGI targets?
   No. While building owners may choose to install solar or other renewables onsite to generate electricity for reasons like resilience or for net-metering, using renewables for electric power to meet a covered building's BEPS compliance obligation as an “offset” or renewable energy credit (REC) is not allowed per the BEPS ordinance. This also includes renewable thermal certificates, carbon offsets, and renewable energy certificates. 

   In Seattle, our electric supply via City Light is very low emissions as it is generated from about 90% renewables like hydropower. Furthermore, City Light buys offsets for its emissions which are registered through various third-party organizations. Learn more on City Light’s website. Also, City Light has an obligation via a State law (WA Clean Energy Transformation Act - CETA) to be entirely powered by renewables by 2045. For that reason, once a Seattle building uses only electric it will be considered compliant with BEPS as long as the data is verified through energy benchmarking verification. 

   Can I use Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) or biodiesel for BEPS compliance?
   While RECs and offsets are not allowed to meet BEPS compliance, renewable natural gas and biodiesel are dependent on the specific supply sources of the renewable energy acquired. To reduce emissions from gas use, a building owner may purchase RNG through Puget Sound Energy’s voluntary program to replace a portion of their conventional fossil gas. Importantly, BEPS only allows RNG that has been purchased by the gas utility, utilized directly in the gas pipeline, and is third-party verified to ensure the environmental attributes are quantified. For other renewable thermal energy, building owners shall provide the Director with an attestation of the renewable energy purchased, verified through M-RETS, Green-e or other renewable energy tracking registry, which specifies the supply source and emissions factor of the renewable energy used. Renewable thermal certificates, carbon offsets, and renewable energy certificates may not be used to meet a covered building's compliance obligation.  

   Does City Light have any studies about their ability to provide enough electric power in the future?
   To gain important insights into the potential impacts of electrification on the utility and its customers, City Light worked with the industry-leading Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to conduct an Electrification Assessment that takes a wide-ranging look at simulated scenarios of electrification. The Electrification Assessment provides analysis that help City Light better understand the energy needed for the electrification of buildings, transportation, and commercial and industrial applications within City Light’s service territory. It also provides insight into the available capacity on our existing distribution grid.  

   The results have been used to inform City Light’s long-term planning and forecasting efforts, such as the Integrated Resource Plan and the load forecast. The assessment also informs the utility’s Building Electrification Strategy and policy and program decisions as City Light considers how it can best facilitate equitable electrification. City Light has been implementing a grid modernization roadmap (which includes rolling out a demand response pilot), securing external funding for electrification-enabling solutions, and continuing to invest in energy efficiency as ways to manage this transition affordably and equitably. 

   How do we get to zero carbon emissions if City Light’s electricity is not carbon-free?
   City Light is required by the State of Washington under Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) to reach 100% renewable or non-emitting electricity supply by 2045. So, the emissions factor will be zero (0) by then. Since CETA starts in 2030, we expect the electric emissions factor will be lower by 2036. This is why the BEPS legislation only sets factors for the first interval, and subsequent emissions factors will be determined in a future rulemaking. Because City Light’s electricity is low emissions and will only get cleaner, buildings that are already all-electric (or achieve it through compliance) don’t have to do the GHG Report, just the Benchmarking Verification. 

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   Miscellaneous

   Is the City providing support for building owners and small businesses?
   OSE’s experience implementing Energy Benchmarking and Building Tune-Ups has taught us how to support under resourced buildings and small businesses with great customer service and education that we’ll apply and grow this for BEPS. 

   Our existing compliance helpdesks allowed the City to achieve over 95% compliance with these existing programs. Two more staff positions will be added to the helpdesks to support BEPS compliance.   

   Additionally, OSE’s Seattle Clean Buildings Accelerator Program, prioritized to buildings in/serving frontline communities and lesser resourced buildings, launched in mid-2022, and has already supported 40 building operators to meet State requirements (which apply to commercial buildings over 50,000 square feet) and to begin planning to reduce emissions in anticipation of BEPS (which applies to commercial and multifamily buildings over 20,000 square feet). In 2025, we’ll roll out a revised program that centers on BEPS.  

   Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded the City of Seattle $17.2 million to implement BEPS, with a focus on supporting buildings in overburdened communities and building an equitable climate workforce. 

   Is the City funding any emissions reduction projects in privately owned buildings?
   Yes, it is. In October 2024, OSE awarded $3.5 million in grants to help eight building owners replace fossil gas furnaces with electric heat pumps or conduct necessary decarbonization studies. Per the final City budget, OSE will award further Building Decarbonization Grants in 2025. The City is also leading by example and decarbonizing City-owned buildings. Those efforts have already reduced energy use 25 percent and emissions 24 percent from 2008 to 2021.

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