Washington State Clean Building Performance Standard
The Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS) is a statewide law designed to improve the energy efficiency of existing commercial and multifamily buildings. The regulation establishes requirements for building energy monitoring, operational improvements, and performance targets in order to reduce overall energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector.What Is Washington State Clean Buildings Performance Standard?
Washington State’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS) is a statewide law designed to improve the energy efficiency and performance of existing commercial and multifamily buildings. The standard establishes requirements for monitoring building energy use, implementing energy management practices, and meeting energy performance targets to reduce overall energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Who Must Comply?
The standard applies to “covered buildings”, which are divided into two categories:
Tier 1 Covered Buildings
Buildings where the total nonresidential, hotel, motel, and dormitory floor area exceeds 50,000 gross square feet (excluding parking garage space).
Tier 2 Covered Buildings
Buildings with 20,000–50,000 gross square feet of floor area.
Multifamily residential buildings 50,000 square feet or larger are also included in Tier 2.
These requirements apply to existing buildings, portions of buildings, and building complexes, including their building envelope and energy-using systems.
What’s Required?
Energy Management Plan (EMP)
Building owners must develop and maintain an Energy Management Plan (EMP) that outlines how the building’s energy performance will be monitored and improved.
The EMP must include:
Annual tracking of energy use and energy use intensity (EUI)
Documentation of operating hours, occupancy, and energy-using equipment
Records of energy audits and implemented efficiency measures
A plan for training operations and maintenance staff
A capital management plan for replacing equipment with energy-efficient alternatives
An energy manager must be designated to oversee the implementation and maintenance of the EMP.
Energy Monitoring and Benchmarking
Covered buildings must monitor and document their energy use using an energy accounting system.
Requirements include:
Tracking at least 12 consecutive months of energy consumption data
Recording energy imported into and exported from the building
Calculating Energy Use Intensity (EUI) based on total energy consumption divided by building floor area
Maintaining energy data using ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager as the energy accounting platform
Operations and Maintenance Program
Building owners must establish a formal operations and maintenance (O&M) program to ensure building systems operate efficiently throughout their service life.
This program applies to:
HVAC systems
Domestic hot water systems
Lighting systems
Building envelope
Electrical systems and controls
The O&M program must document maintenance objectives, performance criteria, and procedures for maintaining energy efficiency.
Energy Use Intensity (EUI) Targets
Tier 1 covered buildings must determine and meet an Energy Use Intensity Target (EUIt) based on their building activity type and operating characteristics.
If a building’s weather-normalized energy use intensity (WNEUI) is less than or equal to its target, the building complies with the standard.
If the building does not meet its target:
A qualified energy auditor must perform an energy audit.
Identified energy efficiency measures (EEMs) must be implemented to reduce energy consumption.
Tier 2 buildings must report energy data and maintain compliance documentation but are not required to meet an EUI target.
Energy Audits and Efficiency Measures
When required, a qualified energy auditor must conduct a building energy audit and identify efficiency improvements.
The audit must:
Analyze building energy use
Identify cost-effective energy efficiency measures (EEMs)
Recommend improvements to reduce overall energy consumption
The recommended measures must then be implemented to achieve compliance with the performance standard.
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How We Help
Clean Buildings Performance Standard Compliance
We manage the entire CBPS compliance process—from energy data collection and Portfolio Manager setup to energy reporting and documentation preparation.
Energy Management Plan Development
Our team develops compliant Energy Management Plans (EMP) that satisfy Washington State requirements and support long-term building performance improvements.
Energy Audits and Efficiency Planning
We conduct comprehensive building energy assessments and identify cost-effective efficiency measures that support compliance with CBPS performance targets.
Compliance Reporting and Documentation
We prepare and submit all required compliance forms, track reporting schedules, and maintain documentation required by the Washington State Department of Commerce.
Why Choose IE Energy
Expertise in Washington Clean Buildings Requirements
Our team works directly with Washington’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard and understands the compliance process, reporting requirements, and performance targets.
Qualified Energy Professional Oversight
Our specialists include experienced energy auditors and engineers who understand building energy systems and compliance requirements.
Data-Driven Compliance
We focus on measurable building performance data and actionable efficiency strategies to help building owners meet regulatory requirements.
Streamlined Compliance Support
We manage the technical and administrative workload, so building owners can stay compliant without the operational burden.
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
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The standard applies to covered buildings, which fall into two categories:
Tier 1 Covered Buildings
Buildings with more than 50,000 square feet of nonresidential, hotel, motel, or dormitory floor area (excluding parking garages).
Tier 2 Covered Buildings
Buildings with 20,000–50,000 square feet of floor area.
Multifamily residential buildings 50,000 square feet or larger are also included in Tier 2.
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Energy Use Intensity (EUI) measures a building’s annual energy consumption relative to its size.
It is calculated by dividing the total annual energy used by the building by the building’s gross floor area and is typically expressed in kBtu per square foot per year.
EUI helps compare energy performance between buildings of different sizes.
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An Energy Use Intensity Target (EUIt) is the maximum energy use level that a covered building should achieve based on its building type and operating characteristics.
For Tier 1 buildings, compliance is demonstrated when the building’s weather-normalized energy use intensity (WNEUI) is less than or equal to its EUIt.
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An Energy Management Plan (EMP) is a documented strategy for managing and improving building energy performance.
The EMP must include:
Energy monitoring and tracking
Documentation of energy audits and efficiency measures
Operational procedures for maintaining efficient building systems
A training plan for operations and maintenance staff
A capital management plan for replacing equipment with efficient alternatives.
Each covered building must designate an energy manager responsible for maintaining the EMP.
A tune-up must be documented in a building tune-up report that summarizes performance issues identified during inspection and the corrective actions taken.
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Covered buildings must collect and maintain at least 12 consecutive months of energy consumption data.
Energy use must include all imported and exported energy and must be tracked using an approved energy accounting system such as ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
Need More Help?
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Call us at 909-906-0840
Email us at team@ieenergy.com