Energy Efficiency Newsroom

Check this webpage for regional and national news and information about building energy efficiency, energy code updates and development, and equipment efficiency standards.

Latest News

WSEC TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

December 12th, 2024 – Cracking the Codes: The Present and Future
of Northwest Energy Code

This webinar will describe the similarities and differences between the two primary commercial energy codes used as the basis for state energy codes in the Northwest — ASHRAE 90.1 and IECC. Learn how codes will likely change in the future and how the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance's (NEEA) Market Transformation programs and initiatives can tie into future code provisions.

December 17th, 2024 – 2021 WSEC-C Service Water Heating Requirements

This webinar will summarize key changes and new requirements in the 2021 WSEC-C for service water heating systems. 

Refer to the Education and Resources page for additional information about these events.

UPDATED - November 15th, 2024

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NEW TECHNICAL RESOURCE!!

2021 WSEC-C Additional Energy Efficiency & Load Management Credits Compliance Forms

Electronic forms have been developed to help designers calculate Required and Achieved Energy Efficiency and Load Management Credits to demonstrate compliance with the 2021 WSEC-C. 

Refer to the Technical Resources section of the Education and Resources page for a link to this Excel workbook.

UPDATED - July 12th, 2024

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2021 WSEC-C EDITION WEBTOOLS FOR ENVELOPE, LIGHTING & MECHANICAL 

These tools are now available for users to start navigating the new envelope, lighting and mechanical requirements of the 2021 WSEC-C. We encourage users to share your observations and feedback with us about these updates.

Tools for service water heating are in development and will be available soon.

UPDATED - March 19th, 2024

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2021 WASHINGTON STATE ENERGY CODES

Effective date of the 2021 WSEC is March 15th, 2024 

On November 28, 2023, the WA State Building Code Council (SBCC) conducted an affirmative vote to modify sections in the commercial and residential energy codes to address legal uncertainty stemming from the decision in California Restaurant Association v. City of Berkeley recently issued by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. These modifications apply primarily to the mechanical, service water heating and additional energy efficiency measure provisions in the 2021 WSEC that go into effect on March 15th, 2024. 

CLICK HERE to go to the Washington State Building Code Council website for the latest news.

UPDATED - November 30th, 2023

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WSEC COMMERCIAL COMPLIANCE DOCUMENTATION WEBTOOL 

This online resource captures many details from the WSEC for envelope, mechanical and lighting systems. Many jurisdictions require this documentation for a project permit submittal. 

READY TO GET STARTED WITH THE WEBTOOL? Create an account and then select My Projects to set up a new project and explore all the helpful features.

UPDATED - January 10th, 2023

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CLEAN ENERGY TRANSFORMATION ACT (CETA) 

CETA (SB 5116) was implemented in May 2019. It commits Washington to an eletricity supply free of greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

"CETA is a complex law requiring transformation of an essential service, electricity, and many agencies and stakeholders will work together to achieve its objectives. Commerce will work closely with the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC), which regulates the rates and service of investor-owned utilities. Other state agency partners include the state auditor and the departments of Ecology and Health.

More than 60 electric utilities must comply with CETA. Interested stakeholders represent business customers, low-income and vulnerable communities, consumers, environmental advocates and renewable energy developers." WA State Energy Office - WA Dept of Commerce

Click here for more information about CETA.

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WSEC COMMERCIAL TECHNICAL SUPPORT - ETC

Evergreen Technology Consulting (ETC) provides commercial energy code technical support services for WA State. We provide classroom and online training, technical topic resources, on-line compliance documentation tools and on-call technical support. 

Refer to the Ask A Question page to reach our commercial energy code experts.