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.
Grants are funded by Seattle’s Payroll Expense Tax and are part of OSE’s Building Emissions Navigator (formerly referred to as the Clean Buildings Accelerator). The Navigator program offers free group trainings and planning assistance to help building owners meet BEPS’ future emissions targets.
The grant application asks for basic information about your building and proposed project, including estimated cost and timeline. Free technical assistance is available to help building owners develop project ideas and gather information for the application. Request free technical assistance by end of day Friday, May 30 on OSE’s website. Technical assistance is not required.
Interested applicants are also welcome to attend a virtual information session to learn more about the grant, discuss a project idea, and ask questions. Information sessions are not required.
Virtual information sessions options hosted over Zoom:
- Thursday, May 1, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
- Thursday, May 8, 4:30 to 5:30 pm
- Wednesday, May 14, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
To request interpretation or other accommodations for information sessions, please email cleanbuildings@seattle.gov at least one week before the session you plan to attend. OSE can also answer questions over email.
This is OSE’s second cycle of Building Decarbonization Grants. In 2024, OSE granted more than $3.5 million to eight community buildings and provided nearly $1 million to support several projects to decarbonize affordable housing. Learn more about past grantees on OSE’s blog.
Visit OSE’s website for more information and to get started on your application!