City of Seattle Building Decarbonization Grants

City of Seattle’s Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) is now accepting applications for the 2025 Building Decarbonization Grants through July 10! OSE may award up to $4 million to owners of buildings such as nonprofits, affordable and senior housing, and others to reduce climate pollution through building upgrades or engineering support.  

Buildings are responsible for 40% of Seattle’s emissions, almost entirely coming from burning high-emissions fossil fuels. This pollution contributes to climate change, which intensifies dangerous weather events, and worsens indoor air quality that can be especially dangerous for vulnerable populations.  

It can be difficult for community-serving building owners to make upgrades to their buildings that reduce emissions. Seattle’s Building Decarbonization Grants are designed to help owners and operators of buildings serving communities hit first and worst by climate change start their climate pollution reduction journeys. Funding can help building owners and operators conduct engineering analyses to prepare for future improvements, or purchase equipment to reduce emissions, such as electric heat pumps and heat pump water heaters to replace fossil-fueled appliances. 

The funding can also help buildings meet future emissions reduction targets over time, as required by Seattle’s Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS). Under BEPS, most large buildings will need to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier — a key part of the Seattle’s efforts to make a healthier and more climate resilient city for all residents.  

Eligible buildings are greater than 20,000 square feet. OSE will prioritize applications from affordable housing, nonprofits, and buildings serving overburdened communities including Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants, refugees, youth, elders, and low-income residents, but other applications will be accepted and reviewed. 

Submit your application by end of day on Thursday, July 10 on OSE’s website. 

The application, info sessions, and free technical assistance are available on OSE’s website.

Funding will also help buildings meet future emissions reduction targets set by Seattle’s Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS) law. Most large buildings will need to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier — a key part of the City’s efforts to make a healthier and more resilient city.