Churches and places of worship
Clean Buildings compliance for churches
Washington's Clean Buildings standard has no exemption for places of worship. If your church building is 20,000–50,000 sq ft, it has to report under Tier 2 by July 1, 2027. We take it off your board's plate and apply for the incentive that usually covers our fee.
How you pay
We do the work. You get paid.
Buildings that comply early can get the state's early adopter incentive of $0.30 per sq ft, paid to the owner by participating utilities. Our fee is $0.25 per sq ft with a $4,000 minimum per building, so the incentive usually covers it. Pay half when you sign and half when we submit your report.
Incentives are paid while funding lasts. Parking and unheated space don't count.
What it means for your church
- It's counted by building: a sanctuary, fellowship hall and classrooms under one roof count together; separate buildings are counted separately
- No staff time needed: we pull the utility data, write the plan and file the report; you sign off
- Good for the budget: the plan often finds operating savings, and the incentive is paid to the owner
- Penalties apply: buildings that don't report can be fined up to $0.30 per sq ft
What we do
- Confirm coverage. We check each building's conditioned square footage and which tier it falls under.
- Benchmark. We gather 12 months of energy use and set up ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
- Write the plan. We prepare your energy management plan and operations and maintenance program.
- Certify it. A qualified energy manager (QEM) who has passed Commerce's Tier 2 training certifies the work, as the state requires.
- File and get paid. We submit your report to Commerce and apply for your incentive before July 1, 2027.
Get a free quote
Tell us about your building and we'll get back to you within 2 business days.
Common questions
Are churches really covered?
Yes. The standard covers nonresidential buildings of 20,000–50,000 sq ft under Tier 2 and has no exemption for places of worship. Smaller buildings aren't covered.
Who has to sign?
The building owner, usually the church or its governing body. We prepare everything and walk your administrator or trustee through the sign-off.
When is the deadline?
Tier 2 reports are due by July 1, 2027, then every 5 years after that. Incentive applications are due by the same date.
Do we have to make upgrades?
Not for Tier 2 right now. The requirement is to measure and manage energy use and report it. The state may add performance targets later.
How does the incentive work?
Buildings that comply early can get $0.30 per sq ft, paid to the owner by participating utilities while funding lasts. Parking and unheated space don't count.
What does it cost?
Our fee is $0.25 per sq ft with a $4,000 minimum per building, which is under the $0.30 incentive for most covered buildings. Sign by December 31, 2026 and save 25% (the minimum still applies).
What if our building is over 50,000 sq ft?
Nonresidential buildings over 50,000 sq ft fall under Tier 1, which has different rules and earlier deadlines. Send us the details and we'll talk through your options.
Are you part of the Department of Commerce?
No. Clean Building Compliance is a private business. Commerce has warned owners about look-alike mailers, so it's worth checking who is contacting you about Clean Buildings.