Seattle Municipal Tower Electrification

Seattle, Washington

Phased Efficiency and Decarbonization for a 1M SF Civic Landmark

As part of the City of Seattle’s broader Municipal Portfolio Energy Performance & Decarbonization efforts, Ecotope has supported the Seattle Municipal Tower—a 1,000,000 SF high-rise office building—in achieving meaningful energy savings and full electrification. Through two building tune-ups (in 2017 and 2023), Ecotope identified and helped implement low- and no-cost operational improvements that significantly reduced energy use without requiring major capital investment. These measures, including controls optimization, lighting upgrades, and equipment scheduling, laid the groundwork for deeper decarbonization efforts. Over time, strategic system replacements—like a chiller plant upgrade and server room decommissioning—contributed further efficiency gains.

Building on these early wins, Ecotope worked closely with City staff to identify and remove the last remaining gas load—a packaged gas furnace serving an unused pool room—bringing the building to 100% electric operation. Despite its size and reliance on electric resistance heating, Seattle Municipal Tower now operates at an impressive site EUI of approximately 41 kBtu/SF/yr. This includes loads from a multi-level parking garage and EV charging stations. The project exemplifies how targeted, staged interventions—starting with low-cost strategies—can reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions at scale, even in large, complex facilities.