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The document outlines a comprehensive framework for local governments to scale the deployment of air-source and ground-source heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. It details a five-step methodology: building a diverse program team and setting goals, engaging and qualifying local contractors, designing affordable incentive and financing structures, executing community outreach, and managing program launch and impact tracking. The guide emphasizes equity, specifically targeting low-to-moderate income (LMI) and frontline communities, and leverages federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

The 2012 Seattle Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory finds that core emissions (road transportation, building energy, and waste) declined 4% from 1990 to 2012 after accounting for offsets. While absolute core emissions remained relatively flat, per person core emissions decreased by 22% over the same period, despite a 23% increase in population and a 14% increase in jobs. Road transportation remains the largest core emission source at 64%, while building energy and waste account for 33% and 3% respectively. In an expanded view including industry and air/marine travel, total emissions were 6.0 million tons CO2e in 2012, representing a 1% reduction from 1990 levels, falling short of a 7% reduction target.

The document details SEI's multi-scale approach to climate mitigation, focusing on sub-national policy for cities, the necessity of limiting fossil-fuel infrastructure to meet the 2°C target, and the strategic use of modern bioenergy in developing countries. It highlights the use of the LEAP system for low-carbon planning and describes ongoing efforts to integrate social variables into technical climate analysis.

The research paper develops a methodology for scenario analysis of consumption-based GHG emissions, moving beyond traditional production-based accounting. It introduces a framework using a modified Kaya Identity to forecast emissions by analyzing population, consumption activity, and GHG intensity. The authors provide a catalogue of low-GHG behavioral measures across food, goods, services, construction, transport, and home energy. Piloting the method in Seattle and the U.S., the study finds that while aggressive behavioral shifts and production improvements can reduce consumption-based emissions by 47% by 2030, the resulting levels remain significantly above the global average required to limit warming to 2°C.

The report finds that King County's 2008 Geographic-plus emissions were 23.4 million MTCO2e, with transportation as the primary source. However, a Consumption-based inventory reveals a much larger footprint of 55 million MTCO2e, driven by the production of imported goods and services. To better manage these emissions, the report recommends a tracking framework focused on a 'core' scope of buildings, transportation, and waste.

The report finds that King County's 2008 emissions were 23.4 million MTCO2e via geographic accounting and 55 million MTCO2e via consumption accounting. Transportation and buildings are the primary local sources, while consumption-based emissions are driven by imported goods and services. The report recommends a 'Core' tracking framework focusing on buildings, transportation, and waste.

The report outlines a pathway for Seattle to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. By implementing aggressive strategies across transportation, buildings, and waste, the city could reduce per capita core emissions by 91% relative to 2008 levels. Key drivers include a massive shift toward electric vehicles, deep energy efficiency retrofits in the built environment, and a transition to low-carbon energy sources like biomass-fired district energy. While the scenario achieves a 90% reduction in core emissions, the report notes that the final 10% may require offsets or sequestration.