Northwest awarded $31,000 through 2025 Seattle Building Decarbonization Grants

The Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) announced $4.68 million in 2025 Building Decarbonization Grants to 17 awardees last week. These grants will fund design features and retrofits that aim to reduce climate pollution and help buildings reach upcoming emissions targets of the Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS).

Among these recipients is the Northwest School, which has been awarded $31,162 towards engineering design to decarbonize two school buildings.

This recognition affirms the Northwest School's core commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Head of School, Ray Wilson, is thrilled that the school's efforts in this area are being supported through this grant. "As we celebrate our 45th anniversary, I am proud of our school and acknowledge our ongoing efforts to help improve our surrounding community, one milestone at a time."

Neo Mazur, Director for Environmental Education and Sustainability, represented the school at the City of Seattle's announcement event. She notes, “The Northwest School has been committed to environmental sustainability since its founding in 1980. This grant will enable Northwest to further this longstanding commitment by helping identify all systems contributing to emissions and develop a prioritized roadmap for replacing building systems for greatest impact as we work towards our goal of becoming carbon neutral.”

The $4.68 million grant awards are administered by OSE’s Seattle Building Emissions Navigator, close on the heels of the successful 2024 pilot grants.

BEPS aims to reduce building emissions across Seattle by 27%, with a target of net-zero emissions by 2041, to promote a healthier, safer, and more climate-resilient city. OSE supports engineering analyses and case studies to help building owners understand their own individual pathway to decarbonization.

"We have participated in the Building Emissions Navigator program through the City of Seattle, and are so excited to be awarded this funding that will further our decarbonization work," says Mazur. "This grant will effectively help us build a decarbonization road map, catalog all our building systems, and also help us understand cost and emissions reductions of any systems replacements. In turn, that enables us to prioritize for cost-effective impact and outcomes."