Building Potential

Interested in speaking or have speaker suggestions? We want to hear from you!

Ready to share your expertise or know great speakers who should be considered? Complete our speaker suggestion form to tell us about yourself or the suggested speaker(s), areas of expertise, and which topics would be a good fit. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and our programming team will be in touch with those whose experience aligns with our conference themes.

Submit Speaker Suggestion Form by July 17th! For more details and SBX26 News check out this link:

Last Call for Call for Speakers! SBX 2026 Call for Speakers Deadline is Friday 7/17 - Smart Buildings Center Interested in speaking or have speaker suggestions? We want to hear from you! Ready to share your expertise or know great speakers who should be considered? Complete our speaker suggestion […]

Our friends at NEEA and the UW Integrated Design Lab have a webinar coming up that may be of interest to you! Check out all the details below.

🏢 Renovating, retrofitting, or repurposing an existing building in Washington? Understanding how the Washington State Energy Code applies to your project can be one of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—for project success.

Join us for a free webinar:
Navigating Washington State Energy Code in Existing Buildings: Practical Strategies for Renovations, Retrofits, and Adaptive Reuse
📅 July 15, 2026
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM PT
💻 Webinar: https://washington.zoom.us/meeting/register/6xUjtd9HQo6V8iRxtZEi7Q

This webinar is brought to you by the University of Washington Integrated Design Lab (Heather Burpee and Teresa Moroseos) and Delta E Consulting (Eric Vander Mey and Andi Burnham), with support from the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA).
Existing buildings rarely fit neatly into current energy code requirements. This session will provide practical guidance for architects, engineers, building owners, developers, code officials, and design professionals working on upgrades, renovations, and adaptive reuse projects.
Topics include:
✅ Energy code requirements for existing buildings
✅ HVAC equipment replacements and alterations
✅ Water heater replacements
✅ Building envelope modifications
✅ Code pathways for thermal energy networks
✅ Adaptive reuse projects, including office-to-residential conversions
✅ Understanding when a project triggers substantial alteration requirements

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Navigating Energy Code in Existing Buildings: Practical Strategies for Renovations, Retrofits, and Adaptive Reuse. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting. Existing buildings rarely fit neatly into today's energy code requirements. Whether you're replacing aging equipment, renovating building systems, modifying the envelope, or converting office space to residential use, understanding how the Washington State Energy Code applies can be both challenging...

Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_za1FKvKtR6uex-xBiqne6g
Please join us for the webinar “Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standards & Seattle Energy Code for Existing Buildings: What BEPS & SEC Requirements Apply to Your Building?” hosted by the Smart Buildings Center and Building Potential, the Building Operator Certification (BOC) program, and the City of Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment.
This session is intended for anyone impacted by these policies, including building operators and facilities professionals, building owners, property managers, and service providers. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how BEPS and Seattle Energy Code requirements apply to existing buildings and what to expect for compliance.

HB1543 rulemaking update: CR-102 filed
Commerce filed the CR-102 for the HB1543 rulemaking on April 09, 2026. The proposed rules and the CR-102 form are available on the Clean Buildings webpage. The form includes:

Agency contact information
Intended adoption date
Public hearing details
Small Business Economic Impact Statement.

Public hearing: Thursday, May 28, 2026, 10 a.m.

The public hearing and end of the comment period for HB1543 rulemaking is scheduled for May 28, 2026. This is your opportunity to give a testimony on the proposed rules and to participate in the rulemaking process.

Register to participate: https://ow.ly/ki9w50YOIMy

You can submit written comments can be submitted through the stakeholder comment form. The deadline for written comments is May 28, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: The Clean Buildings Performance Standard HB1543 Public Hearing. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting. Register to participate in the public hearing and provide verbal testimony or comments. The following documents can be found on the Clean Buildings Website at www.commerce.wa.gov/cbps (copy/paste the link into your web browser): - CR 101 - CR 102 with point of contact, proposed rules, public hearing...

On Earth Day and every day, the work of Building Potential and the Smart Buildings Center plays a critical role in supporting the long‑term sustainability of our planet. Buildings are one of the largest contributors to energy use and emissions, and empowering the people who operate them is one of the most effective ways to drive meaningful change. Whether it be through events like the Building Operator Certification training and Smart Buildings Exchange, advocating for environmentally responsible policy, or practical resources like the Tool Lending Library and providing spaces for the industry to convene, our programs help facilities and energy industry professionals reduce energy use, lower emissions, and create healthier, more efficient buildings. By investing in people, skills, and smarter building operations, we are helping to protect natural resources, strengthen communities, and move toward a more sustainable future for Earth.