Better Buildings
The city is launching its Better Buildings Program. This initiative is a suite of sustainability services and programs that city departments offer for free to single-family, multi-family, and commercial buildings.
Multifamily Services
The Better Buildings -- Multifamily Services program provides a centralized hub of free sustainability programs for apartment complexes and other multifamily buildings. These services are free to building owners and will help properties comply with state law requirements around energy benchmarking and organic waste management, provide free consultation and site assessments for EV charging and water conservation, and offer discounted public transit benefits to tenants and renters.
If you are a tenant or renter, encourage your property manager to take advantage of these free opportunities!
Read more about the services offered:
Clean Buildings Incentives Program
The Clean Buildings Incentives Program has relaunched to provide free compliance support for buildings required to meet Clean Energy Transformation Act reporting requirements and consultation for energy efficiency improvements.
Participants will receive the following services:
- Access to education and training about WA Clean Buildings Law compliance
- Support building energy benchmarking in Energy Star Portfolio Manager
- Develop required Operation and Maintenance Program and Energy Management Plan documents and offer best practices
- Assistance with accessing incentives
- Support with the compliance process
Energy Smart Eastside
Energy Smart Eastside is a partnership between the Cities of Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Kirkland, and Sammamish that is designed to support homeowners and building owners electrify their heating and cooling systems.
Learn more about heat pumps and how you can save time and money through the installation process on Energy Smart Eastside's website
Benefits of Heat Pumps:
- Can warm and cool your home
- Filter indoor air (Great for smoke season!)
- Energy efficient & electric
- Reduce heating bills
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Offer consistent, even temperature
Recycle Right
Recycle Right is a city program in partnership with Republic Services to offer free recycling and composting bins on multifamily properties, as well as educational signage for proper waste disposal.
Bellevue Utilities staff will support you in the following:
- Free on-site auditing
- Educate your employees about what can be recycled in your building; we can provide free posters
- Installation of free on-site recycling and composting bins
- Support compliance with the State Organics Management Law
Contact recycle@bellevuewa.gov to get started with these services.
Charge Ready Bellevue
ChargeReady Bellevue helps multifamily property owners navigate the early stages of electric vehicle charging. ChargeReady Bellevue provides no-cost, no-commitment assistance to equip multifamily building owners and managers with the information, coordination support, and incentive awareness needed to make informed decisions and advance technically feasible, code-compliant, and cost-effective EVSE projects.
Through ChargeReady Bellevue, free services include:
- In-person site assessments on your property with an engineer
- Electrical load analysis to understand capacity constraints
- Cost-estimates and funding guidance
Choose Your Way Bellevue
Choose Your Way Bellevue Multifamily Services
Choose Your Way Bellevue (CYWB) Multifamily Services is a FREE transportation service provided by the City of Bellevue. These services are for anyone living in apartments, condos, or townhouses.
CYWB staff can provide information and resources for non-drive-alone transportation options, including public transit, vanpool/carpool, biking, and walking. There are resources for both property managers and residents.
Resident Events
Multifamily building residents can sign up for sustainable tabling events at their complex. CYWB staff will join other city sustainability experts to answer your questions and give you tips on living greener. CYWB staff will provide information on affordable and low-cost transportation programs, provide pre-loaded ORCA cards through the Try Transit program, and customized travel training based on your location. Events will include games, giveaways, and refreshments. Once enough people have signed up for a tabling event at a specific location, CYWB will work with the building's property manager to schedule the event.
Property Managers/Developers
Multifamily Building Events & Multifamily Development ORCA Passport Card
Building residents can request a CYWB tabling event at your location for FREE! CYWB staff and other city staff can answer tenant sustainability-related questions and provide information and resources on various city programs. CYWB will provide property managers with the digital marketing toolkit, and the rest of the work is done by staff. Additionally, CYWB is promoting the ORCA Passport for multifamily residences. Property managers can offer their residents a popular transportation benefit at an affordable rate for all. ORCA Passport provides access to several Puget Sound transit providers and offers the flexibility and cost savings for both residents and property managers.
Learn more here.
Cascade Water Conservation Support
Cascade partners with commercial, multifamily, and institutional properties to identify water-saving opportunities that make real impacts. Cascade offers programs, rebates, and expert support help building owners cut costs, conserve water, and plan responsibly.
Free Programs Include:
- Lawn Be Gone - Save water and money with beautiful native and drought tolerant plants.
- Irrigation System Evaluation - Receive a free irrigation system evaluation and site assessment to learn how to use water more efficiently and lower utility bills.
- Free Water Conservation Items offers free tools like efficient showerheads, rain gauges, and toilet leak detection dye to support day-to-day conservation practices.
- Rebates and Offers through a partnership with Puget Sound Energy.