Energy & Green Building
The Energy and Green Building Program creates a healthy built environment for people and the planet. We are working to facilitate a local economy powered by the efficient use of clean, renewable, and secure energy and buildings that live lightly on, or are even restorative to, our environment. Sustainable Connections is blazing a trail and making our region a leader in clean energy and buildings.
How we can help you save energy
Our Community Energy Challenge program helps business, non-profits, and homeowner improve comfort, cut energy costs, and move toward a cleaner, more efficient built environment.
How we can help you save energy
Our Community Energy Challenge program helps business, non-profits, and homeowner improve comfort, cut energy costs, and move toward a cleaner, more efficient built environment.
Our Impact
Thousand Dollars
We’re helping local businesses save $482K annually in energy costs.
Millions Dollars
Generating $3.6 million for our local economy through energy saving projects.
Businesses
Over 900 businesses have received energy assessments
events & Program Highlights
Green Home Tour & Talks
We invite you to join us for our Green Home Tour! This is a week-long full of festivities to celebrate green builds through a tour where you can take a peek into local, innovative builds. You will be able to view homes at optimal points of their builds and learn about the inventive technology and the pioneering building practices that are implemented in the most sustainable homes in the area.
Green Home Tour & Talks
We invite you to join us for our Green Home Tour! This is a week-long full of festivities to celebrate green builds through a tour where you can take a peek into local, innovative builds. You will be able to view homes at optimal points of their builds and learn about the inventive technology and the pioneering building practices that are implemented in the most sustainable homes in the area.
Energize the San Juans
ACT NOW! The Community Energy Challenge makes achieving energy efficiency as easy as possible. We know that San Juan businesses have unique needs, and that’s why we are teaming up with OPALCO to help Energize businesses in San Juan County. We’re bringing together energy-saving expertise and generous rebates and grants for energy efficiency and solar projects to maximize savings.
Energize the San Juans
ACT NOW! The Community Energy Challenge makes achieving energy efficiency as easy as possible. We know that San Juan businesses have unique needs, and that’s why we are teaming up with OPALCO to help Energize businesses in San Juan County. We’re bringing together energy-saving expertise and generous rebates and grants for energy efficiency and solar projects to maximize savings.
Discounted Energy Audits for Businesses on Tribal Land
Act Now! The Community Energy Challenge, Northwest Indian College, and Spark Northwest have teamed up to offer discounted energy assessments to businesses located on tribal lands. Businesses are eligible for up to 50% of energy efficient project costs including solar.
Discounted Energy Audits for Businesses on Tribal Land
Act Now! The Community Energy Challenge, Northwest Indian College, and Spark Northwest have teamed up to offer discounted energy assessments to businesses located on tribal lands. Businesses are eligible for up to 50% of energy efficient project costs including solar.
Green Building Slam
Are you ready for the Green Building Slam? The Slam is a community favorite, known for its fast-paced, presentation style and incredible networking opportunities with local green building experts and enthusiasts. Get ready for a night of good food, libations, and fun!
Green Building Slam
Are you ready for the Green Building Slam? The Slam is a community favorite, known for its fast-paced, presentation style and incredible networking opportunities with local green building experts and enthusiasts. Get ready for a night of good food, libations, and fun!
Get Involved
Energy Club
Meet like-minded folks and energy efficiency experts to learn about local resources to help you save energy at work, empower you to get buy-in from coworkers and management for your energy-saving efforts, and share energy-saving best practices and success stories with each other.
Green Building Nerds
Green Building Nerds is an informal meeting where peers in the green building industry discuss, troubleshoot, share, and have fun nerding out over a beverage. Topics, locations, and attendance vary, but nerding out is always encouraged.
C&D Toolkit
Unsure where to dispose of construction and demolition waste? This toolkit helps contractors find efficient, responsible solutions and signage for jobsite waste disposal.
Achievements by the community energy challenge
In 2017, Bellingham was a finalist in Georgetown University’s Energy Prize for saving almost 50 billion BTUs of energy, and reduced carbon emissions by 11,977 metric tons. Bellingham was noted as the most creative and inclusive city by engaging residents broadly and targeting harder-to-reach sectors of the population, including renters and multi-family units.
The Energy & Green Building program has been involved in several Solarize Whatcom Campaigns helping residents and business owners easily navigate solar installation by providing free workshops and site assessments, brokering low interest rates, and assisting with every step of the contract and installation process. We have had nearly 60 contracts completed over the years.
In 2025, the Energy and Green Building team assisted about 25 nonprofits and minority owned businesses in Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties to reduce 474k lbs of CO2 emissions from going into environment through investing $800,000 in the local economy’s energy efficiency. This work was funded by the Climate Commitment Act through the Department of Commerce, in partnership with the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, and Northwest Clean Air Agency.
Thank you to our partners
Thank you to our ⚡Current⚡level sponsors
Thank you to our 💥Spark 💥level sponsors
