(Image: City of Seattle)

Estimates show Seattle’s buildings are responsible for about 37% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the city. A new proposal would raise the standards on the city’s largest buildings to speed up efforts to address climate pollution.

Wednesday, the Seattle City Council’s Committee on Climate Action will consider legislation that would “dramatically lower the carbon footprint of existing large buildings in Seattle,” according to a briefing on the bill.

The bill aims to achieve net-zero building emissions by 2050 by establishing emissions reduction targets for buildings greater than 20,000 square feet, measuring and verifying greenhouse gas emissions, helping building owners create decarbonization plans, and establishing fees.

The plan would impact around 4,100 existing buildings larger than 20,000 square feet around the city including a handful of school, health, and residential buildings around Capitol Hill and the Central District. The standards would be phased in over five-year intervals with the city’s largest structures first on the list. Continue reading →