Partnership and Planning Drive Clean Buildings Compliance for Puyallup School District in Washington

Puyallup School District (PSD) did not wait for the deadline, and it paid off. By engaging with McKinstry, 22 of 34 school buildings are now fully compliant under Washington State’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS). This first-round achievement spans Tier 1 and Tier 2 building classifications across elementary schools, junior highs and supports facilities, positioning PSD for full portfolio compliance. This demonstrates the impact of proactive planning and early action.

What sets Puyallup School District apart is not simply early compliance, but early decision-making. District leaders anticipated the opportunity and acted ahead of the deadline, strategically submitting all 15 Tier 2 buildings for compliance a full year early. This approach positions PSD to access Tier 2 Early Adopter Incentive funding, which is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. As a result, the district could receive up to $180,000 in incentive funding to help offset compliance-related costs.

Behind PSD’s compliance success is a culture of partnership. Through participation in Puget Sound Energy and Tacoma Power’s Commercial Energy Management programs, the district has built a collaborative relationship with its utility partners. These programs allow PSD to leverage technical support and incentives to drive efficiency improvements across its facilities. The district’s experience highlights how utility partnerships can support long-term energy management and compliance efforts.

Partnering with McKinstry’s PowerED program, a behavior-based energy management approach that combines low- and no-cost operational strategies and ongoing performance tracking, PSD has systematically implemented energy efficiency measures districtwide. The PowerED program has successfully steered buildings away from the more expensive investment criteria pathway and into compliance through active energy management over time.

By continuously tracking building performance, PSD has been well-positioned to identify and capture incentives and grant funding opportunities as they become available. In 2025, PSD was awarded nearly $600,000 from the Department of Commerce for ASHRAE audits at eight schools.

PSD is well on its way to full portfolio compliance and actively preparing for submission of the remaining sites. This first-round success reflects the district’s commitment to responsible stewardship of both its facilities and its resources.

By aligning long-range planning with available compliance pathways, Puyallup School District shows how K-12 institutions can navigate Washington’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard in a clear and manageable way.