$1.8M Awarded to Improve Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Five entities, including local governments and school districts, will share in $1.8 million in funding to make their public buildings more energy efficient, the Washington State Department of Commerce announced Thursday.

“Buildings are the second largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing energy efficiency to reduce energy use and costs offers a tremendous return on investment while also supporting jobs in the clean energy economy,” said Commerce Director Lisa Brown in a written statement. 

“It’s important that the government lead by example — these projects demonstrate the significant near and long-term benefits of investing in building energy efficiency,” she said.

Those sharing in the funding include the Federal Way School District in King County, Washington, which is slated to receive $350,000 for heating; the Goldendale School District in Klickitat County, which is receiving $350,000 for heat recovery and LED lighting; and the Mary Walker School District in Stevens County, which will get $350,000 to complete a controls upgrade at all 18 of its schools.

Also receiving funds are the city of Renton in King County, which is receiving $267,626 for heating and cooling controls and lighting upgrades in the City Hall, aquatic center, maintenance shop, and a park; and the Washington State Department of Corrections, which is getting $284,756 to upgrade plumbing and fixtures in the state penitentiary in Walla Walla.  

These grants are offered through the state’s Energy Retrofits for Public Buildings program, with the goal of funding projects that will benefit communities through the reduction of energy use and costs. 

This particular solicitation was designed to align with and advance the goals of the 2021 Washington State Energy strategy to meet greenhouse gas emission limits while benefiting rural, urban and vulnerable communities throughout the state.  

Half of the funds have been awarded to small towns or cities with populations below 5,000.  All of the grant awards will provide economic, environmental and quality of life benefits to under-resourced communities in the state, including several highly impacted communities based on Washington’s Environmental Health Disparities Map.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue