Public and private educational institutions in the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla are among the 70 recipients of $55.5 million in grants to help them meet the state’s Clean Building Performance Standards. 

The Pasco School District received nearly $2 million to upgrade its HVAC systems and make other improvements to 20 buildings, according to the state Department of Commerce. Walla Walla Public Schools received nearly $1.3 million. 

“This funding allows us to make meaningful improvements that will enhance the learning environment for our students while also reducing energy costs,” said Raúl Sital, the Pasco School District’s assistant superintendent of operations and supports, in a statement. “These upgrades will contribute to a long-term energy management plan to increase sustainability across our schools, ensuring our facilities operate efficiently for years to come.” 

The private Walla Walla University received $2 million and will use the funding for lighting and upgrades to walls, windows, roofs and foundations, as well as compliance reporting.  

The building standards were made law in 2019, becoming the first statewide building performance standard in the nation. They apply to public and private buildings that are larger than 20,000 square feet, including multifamily residential buildings. 

Other work being paid for by the grants include upgrading lighting to efficient LEDs, implementing smart building controls to optimize energy use and developing compliance documentation, such as energy benchmarking reports, operations and maintenance as well as energy management plans and audits.