SCALE 2030
Scaling Clean Buildings in Washington State
JasonResilient Affordable Clean Buildings by 2050
SCALE 2030 envisions that in 2050 nearly all commercial and residential buildings in Washington state are:
- Zero-emission
- Efficient
- Affordable to operate
- Grid-interactive
- Providing renewable energy and storage
SCALE 2030 is a project to implement transformative strategies and investments bold enough to fully scale up the clean buildings transition in Washington by 2030.
Modernizing our residential and commercial buildings is indispensable to provide Washingtonians with essential, resilient infrastructure necessary to thrive in the 21st century. Washington faces multiple building sector energy challenges, including decarbonizing electricity, electrifying end uses, withstanding impacts on global energy markets, and adapting to a changing climate with more extreme weather and wildfires.
Changing how we use energy in the buildings where we live, work, and gather can:
- Support healthier environments
- Save energy and money
- Make buildings a resource that responds to grid stress
- Reduce reliance on imported natural gas
- Create high-quality jobs in the building sector
Current programs, incentives, and policies for buildings are not enough to transform the building sector. Washington needs more institutional and market capacity to deliver clean buildings at pace.
The scale of this challenge is also an opportunity for policy makers, utilities, lenders, the real estate industry, service providers, regulators, community-based organizations, and advocates to maximize the benefits for businesses and communities as we ensure a modern building stock for current and future generations.
A Fully-Scaled Clean Buildings Ecosystem by 2030
To meet 2050 emissions limits, by 2030 all new or replacement equipment going into Washington's residential and commercial buildings should be zero emission and highly efficient. The scale and pace of this shift means that by 2030 Washington must fully scale up the policies as well as the institutional and market capacity to implement an effective clean buildings transition. This includes:
- Statewide goals for the building sector to guide and track progress to 100% clean buildings by 2050
- A clear regulatory path for all building types to inform energy upgrade decisions and shape market development
- Policies and price signals that encourage emissions reductions, efficiency, onsite generation, and demand flexibility
- Zero-emission, efficient equipment that is cost-competitive with alternatives, and reliably available
- That building owners and decision makers are aware of clean buildings technologies and services for their buildings, with access to financing and technical support
- Enough trained service providers and contractors to install key equipment across the state, including in rural areas
- A clean buildings sector that supports employment and economic growth across Washington
SCALE 2030: Clean Buildings Roadmap
The SCALE 2030: Clean Buildings Roadmap for Washington proposes six levers and 16 actions to build a foundation for rapid, large-scale implementation of a clean buildings transition.
Explore the Clean Buildings Roadmap
