Playbook for Green Buildings + Neighborhoods | Buildings | Seattle Approves Energy Disclosure Ordinance

Ordinance will help identify energy-wasting buildings

Feb. 2, 2010
Mayor Mike McGinn approved a new ordinance to identify energy-wasting buildings. The Energy Disclosure Ordinance, unanimously approved by the Seattle City Council on January 25, 2010, will give City residents and property owners the tools they need to make necessary improvements. City officials say the new ordinance is critical to meeting the City's energy goals, while commercial property owners and energy efficiency contractors point to the economic and business benefits of the new policy.

The new Ordinance requires large commercial and multi-family property owners in Seattle to annually measure, or benchmark, energy use and provide the City with ratings to allow comparison across different buildings. Building owners will also be required to share energy usage and ratings with prospective buyers, tenants and lenders during the sale, lease or financing of properties.

Energy disclosure is one of several measures recommended by the City's Green Building Task Force aimed at reducing energy consumption in existing buildings throughout the city by 20 percent. Today marks the first anniversary of when the Task Force provided those recommendations.

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Source: City of Seattle

In the United States, commercial buildings provide approximately 78 billion square feet of floor space. These buildings can save 35% or more on annual energy costs through energy-efficient upgrades, creating more than $25 billion in annual savings. (USEPA)