Clean Buildings Compliance Support Grant

The Clean Buildings Compliance Support opportunity is administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce to provide critical funding assistance to building owners pursuing compliance with the state’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS). This standard, established under RCW 19.27A.210 and amended to include additional building types in 2022, sets mandatory requirements for energy performance and management practices in non-residential and multifamily buildings. Through this Request for Applications (RFA), Commerce offers a consolidated mechanism to apply for four distinct funding programs, all focused on aiding compliance efforts for both public and private building owners across the state. The overarching goal of the program is to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in large existing buildings through activities like benchmarking, implementation of operations and maintenance programs, energy management planning, energy audits, and physical retrofits. Eligible applicants include owners of covered buildings classified under Tier 1 (greater than 50,000 square feet) and Tier 2 (20,000 to 49,999 square feet for multifamily buildings), including publicly owned, privately owned, and tribal buildings. A combined total of $32.4 million in state funds is available through this RFA, with funding made possible by the Climate Commitment Act. Each funding track targets a specific compliance need. Clean Buildings Performance Grants ($4.8 million) support reporting requirements such as benchmarking and the development of Energy Management Plans (EMP) and Operations & Maintenance Plans (O&M), and, in limited cases, energy audits for privately owned eligible buildings. The Energy Audits for Public Buildings track ($12.2 million) funds ASHRAE Level 1, Level 2, or targeted Level 2 audits for public Tier 1 buildings. The Energy Efficiency Retrofits for Public Buildings program ($10.6 million) offers funding for capital improvements that directly reduce a building’s energy use intensity. Finally, the State Project Improvement track ($4.8 million) funds energy-efficiency upgrades incorporated into already planned and budgeted capital projects at state facilities. To qualify, applicants must own the building(s) involved, be licensed to operate in Washington (or agree to become licensed within 30 days of selection), and meet specific eligibility thresholds depending on the funding track. For instance, Energy Retrofits require a Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of greater than one and submission of a recent energy audit, while state project improvements must include a comparison of baseline and enhanced projects and show enhanced energy savings. Projects must target Tier 1 or Tier 2 buildings as defined by CBPS and must demonstrate alignment with compliance timelines and performance targets set by the standard. Applications must be submitted electronically by 3:00 p.m. PST on March 4, 2026, via the Clean Buildings online application form. Applicants must submit a complete application including four mandatory exhibits: Certifications and Assurances, Applicant Information, Diverse Business Inclusion Plan, and a Worker’s Rights Certification. A pre-proposal conference is offered virtually on December 11, 2025, and January 28, 2026. The Q&A period concludes February 18, 2026. Applicants will be notified of their status by April 23, 2026, and contracts may be signed beginning May 11, 2026. The period of performance will run through June 30, 2027. All awards are made on a reimbursement basis. While there are no matching requirements, other funding sources and utility incentives must be reported and factored into the project budget. Applications are evaluated on criteria including the proposed building’s energy profile, the project’s alignment with CBPS goals, readiness to proceed, equity considerations, and past grant history with Commerce. Evaluation weights are 70% for the technical work plan, 25% for program management, and 5% for cost documentation. Competitive priorities include projects in rural areas, buildings with high or unmeasurable energy use intensity, and facilities such as schools or tribal buildings. Support documentation, including the full RFA and submission portal, is available via Commerce’s grant management page. Additional questions can be directed to the RFA Coordinator, Sam Pfeifer, at [email protected]. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to review the full guidelines, confirm eligibility per each funding track, and submit early to avoid technical submission issues. Commerce may award multiple contracts, and funds may be amended later if additional funding becomes available.

Ensure your proposal links directly to CBPS compliance goals. Small towns, Tier 1 buildings above EUIt, and tribal entities may receive funding priority.