Western Washington University

06/12/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/12/2026 09:37

Kaiser Borsari Hall awarded energy performance grant

Kaiser Borsari Hall awarded energy performance grant

June 12, 2026

by Lisa Brennan

Facilities Development and Operations

Kaiser Borsari Hall's exceptional first year energy performance has earned Western an energy performance grant from Puget Sound Energy (PSE) in the amount of $467,413. Based on actual metered usage during its first year of operation, the building qualified for PSE's "Net Zero Ready" bonus incentive tier - reserved for buildings that achieve greater than 50% energy savings compared to a standard code-built building of the same type and size.

The grant was awarded through PSE's Commercial New Construction program, which rewards buildings that demonstrate measured real-world energy savings beyond Washington State energy code requirements over their first year of operation. This grant reflects a long-term, productive relationship between WWU and PSE in pursuing energy efficiency across campus.

Western's new home for Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and the Institute for Energy Studies was dedicated on December 12, 2024, and opened for instruction in January of 2025. The building's rooftop solar array generated 83,288 kWh during the year - offsetting up to 35% of monthly consumption in peak summer months and reducing grid-drawn electricity to approximately 432,000 kWh net. Remaining energy needs for Kaiser Borsari, along with all electricity on Western's Bellingham campus, are renewably sourced from PSE's Green Direct Program.

Kaiser Borsari Hall serves as a living laboratory: real-time energy and solar generation data feeds directly into coursework for students in the Institute of Energy Studies and Electrical Engineering programs, connecting the building's energy performance to hands-on learning and demonstrating what can be achieved with efficient, high-performance design.

Western Washington University published this content on June 12, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 12, 2026 at 15:37 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]