HDC Sustainability Update – October 2025

October 9, 2025 in Blog post

Welcome to HDC’s Sustainability Update for October 2025! Bookmark this page to stay up-to-date on the latest sustainability opportunities available to our community — featuring technical assistance, funding resources, training sessions and other meaningful updates from building codes to clean and healthy materials. HDC’s Sustainable Buildings Initiative collaborates with partners throughout the affordable housing community to achieve better living experiences by supporting efforts to build and rehabilitate housing that is electrified, highly energy and water efficient, uses clean and safe materials, and considers new advances in building methods. Please feel free to reach out directly with feedback on this new resource.

Technical Assistance

• Seattle Multifamily Energy Code: Economical Options for Compliance  – sign up now to join this in person seminar on October 16^th with representatives from Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, Weber Thompson, Delta F Consulting, and Ecotope. Programming developed by Seattle City Light’s Electrification& Strategic Technology Division.
• Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standard Navigator Program is starting its next Multifamily Building Cohort Training on October 22.
• The City of Bellevue is helping large buildings (20,000+ sf) to reduce energy use, save on costs, and comply with WA State Clean Buildings Law. Free building energy services include energy benchmarking, scoping assessments, incentive navigation, and compliance reporting support – an estimated $18,000 value.  Plus, Free Training Webinars: WA Clean Buildings Law Compliance
  • Clean Buildings 101: Intro to Clean Buildings Law, Incentives, and Support; Oct 14, 11am – noon
  • Clean Buildings 102: Benchmarking Your Building’s Energy for Compliance; Oct 22, 11am-noon

Funding Opportunities

• Clean Energy Grants now available!  Applications are due November 4. Washington State Department of Commerce is offering free feasibility study technical assistance and pre-application workshops to assist potential applicants. Project examples include: Solar, Energy storage, Grid resilience, Wind, Biomass, Renewable hydrogen, Geothermal, and other technology that uses renewable resources to enhance Washington’s clean energy economy. Approximately $32 million is available to public and private entities; and, approximately $9 million is available to tribal applicants.
• Washington Electric Vehicle Charging Program has opened its Round 2 funding opportunity offering at least $19.4 million to increase electric vehicle charging in Washington. Applications accepted until December 18, 2025.

Education Events & SignUps

• The 2030 Districts is hosting a beta test to get your feedback on their new Green Stormwater Infrastructure toolkit. Register now for the November 13, 12 pm event – lunch will be provided.
• See Technical Assistance above for Seattle Multifamily Energy Code: Economical Options for Compliance event registration
• Sign up to receive regular updates from Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment to stay aware of deadlines, tools and featured opportunities.
• Tour Northlake Commons with 2030 Districts, on October 16 at 4pm (PDT). This event will share Seattle Public Utilities’ Beyond Code Program that provides support and financial incentive to exceed stormwater code requirements.
• Multifamily Homes Program for Building Upgrades presented by King County Executive Climate Office. Sign up now for the Learn at Lunch on October 28th from 12 – 1pm.
• Washington State Department of Ecology is seeking building industry workers, including construction workers, contractors, building inspectors, installers/finishers, and painters to participate in a Safer Building Materials Focus Group. This group will meet in early 2026 and be compensated with a $200 gift card for each selected participant. To indicate interest please complete this very brief survey. We will engage workers to hear their experiences using common building products such as paints, adhesives, caulks, and insulation. This effort is about learning directly from workers- those who know best about the products they use every day.  
  • Focus group questions may include:  
  • What products do you use most often?  
  • What, if any alternative products have you considered using?  
  • How do you usually learn about the chemicals in these products?  

Updates

• HDC DAHN 2025 Learn at Lunch Series continues! Check this link to find prior sessions’ YouTube replays, presentations and resource links.
• Help shape the state HEAR Program. Public comments open until October 23. Washington State Department of Commerce is seeking feedback on the DRAFT Request for Applications for the State Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program that will be used to solicit administrators for $29.6 million available to provide rebates and incentives for low and moderate-income households, small businesses, and adult family homes.
• Washington State Department of Commerce has selected Guidehouse to serve as IRA HOME Rebate administrator. Learn more about the Qualified Contractor Network – and how this program component will expand opportunities for practitioners and tools for building owners/operators.
• Washington State Department of Commerce is seeking feedback on the Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard.
• Electric Storage Water Heater standards will be getting an update to reflect more recent versions of ANSI/CTA-2045-A standards. Here’s a link to additional information from Washington State Department of Commerce.

Sustainability Updates are a robust topic area that is always evolving. We look forward to improving this feature based upon the feedback of our members.