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Buildings & Energy

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Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas produced by burning oil, gas, and coal, and contributes to climate change and extreme weather. Energy use in buildings is the second biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Shoreline. Most of these emissions come from natural gas and heating oil to heat homes and buildings.

By comparison, Shoreline’s electricity, provided by Seattle City Light, is carbon-neutral and comes from renewable sources. That's why converting gas and oil heating systems to cleaner electric options is a key strategy to reduce Shoreline’s emissions!

Shoreline's Climate Action Plan has several strategies and actions to help existing homes, businesses, and multi-family buildings switch to efficient, electric heat pumps and appliances. The plan also includes ways to increase renewable energy generation (like solar panels) and advance building codes that create new buildings that are more sustainable.

Shoreline's Clean Buildings & Energy Programs

Help Residents Switch to Electric Options

Approximately 42% of Shoreline's greenhouse gas emissions come from using fossil fuels to heat our homes and buildings. Reaching our goal of reducing these emissions by 60% by 2030 will be a significant challenge. Fortunately, the tools and technology to make this happen are within reach – like heat pumps!

That's why we launched Energize Shoreline, a program that provides free educational workshops about heat pump technology and exclusive savings on heat pumps for Shoreline residents. In the summer of 2024, nearly 260 residents attended our three educational workshops.

Checkout our Energize Shoreline webpage for more information on heat pumps, available incentives, and more!

Update Energy Codes

In 2021, City Council approved an ordinance that bans fossil fuels in new commercial and large multi-family construction projects for space heating and most water heating. As a result, Shoreline became the second city in the Pacific Northwest region to adopt a policy that helps accelerate the transition to all-electric buildings by eliminating most fossil fuel uses from new commercial and large multi-family development.

Support Sustainable Development

Increase Energy Efficiency at City Buildings

Shoreline City Hall is a highly efficient, LEED® Gold-certified building with innovative energy- and water-saving features, including solar shades to keep the building cooler on sunny days, and a 3,050-square-foot green roof that insulates the structure. In 2012, City Hall was responsible for 33% fewer emissions than a typical Northwest office building and 10% fewer emissions than a typical ENERGYSTAR office building, per square foot.

City Hall green roof rain garden.

The green roof at City Hall not only helps insulates the building, but also beautifies the space by featuring a native plant garden.

What You Can Do

Make Home Improvements

To reduce your water us, save energy, and lower your carbon footprint, you can make improvements to your home. Many of these changes will also save you money!

Search For and Use Rebates

Get updates on new incentives as they become available here.

There are several rebates available to help you improve your home's energy efficiency and reduce utility costs.

In 2024, the federal and Washington state governments will be offering rebates for making the switch to electric appliances and heating equipment. See how much you are eligible to get with this savings calculator!
Seattle City Light offers various rebates and tips on energy savings for homes and rentals, along with Energy Advisors who can help you identify ways to be more efficient and save money at work and at home.
Puget Sound Energy offers rebates to support energy savings and to move to electric appliances and heating.
For more information on saving water and available rebates for toilets, kitchen equipment and more, visit SavingWater.org.

Do a Home Energy Audit

A recent study conducted for King County found that retrofitting homes to consume less energy, both through improvements to the building envelope (walls, floors, and roofs) and upgrades in heating and air-conditioning systems, can reduce household energy use and greenhouse gas pollution by 45%. Seattle City Light offers a Do-It-Yourself Energy Audit guide for homeowners to help you get started on retrofitting your own home.

Electrify Your Home

Switching to efficient electric options for home heating, appliances, and vehicles not only reduces your carbon footprint to almost zero – it can also save you money, improve your home’s comfort and safety, and leads to cleaner air. Check our our Energize Shoreline and Sustainable Transportation webpages to learn how you can make the switch to all-electric heating and vehicles, including incentives and rebates that may be available to you.

Rewiring America also offers an online Personal Electrification Planner to help you prioritize what to electrify first and how to maximize your savings with rebates and incentives.

Install Solar

Solar energy systems convert sunlight into electricity to power your home. When you have solar panels on your home, you typically purchase less electricity from utility companies because you are producing some or all the power your home needs.

Adding home solar can make switching to an all-electric home even more affordable. Seattle City Light compensates you for excess power your system generates and provides to the electrical grid. Solar panels can also make your home more resilient in the event of an outage. Explore incentives for solar energy on your home or business with Seattle City Light.