BPS Library

Building Performance Standard (BPS) policies are an emerging policy mechanism designed to improve the energy efficiency of, and reduce the emissions from, existing buildings by requiring each covered building to meet an energy use or carbon emissions performance target by a specific deadline. The DOE and EPA are providing hands-on support to jurisdictions interested in developing and implementing a BPS or similar building intervention policy. This document provides background information on BPS, lists key resources and tools, and describes the types of support that are available.

This document provides an overview of key considerations for aligning a building performance standard (BPS) and energy code. It is intended for BPS policymakers and implementers to understand questions such as: Why align BPS and energy code? How do code compliance paths affect future BPS compliance? What strategies can be used to ensure alignment between the two policies?

This document examines lessons from carbon policy and their applicability to building performance standards. Discusses policy in DC, NYC, and Tokyo. This report assesses the various tradeoffs and challenges of designing building performance standards (BPS) in order to facilitate compliance and promote cost-effectiveness.

Provides an overview of building performance standards and offers information on key decision points to consider when designing a BPS.

Overview of the BPS development process, including considerations such as performance target-setting, implementation and enforcement timelines, equitable policy application, and compliance support.

This two-page needs assessment provides the industry needs to establish and implement the BPS from the market perspective.

This guide is intended to provide technical basis and resources to policymakers, building owners, facility managers, design professionals and ASHRAE members when developing and implementing a Building Performance Standard (BPS). The guide focuses on larger building types and scope of BPS as developed by leading U.S. cities and states. The guide covers BPS aimed toward reducing building operating energy use and resulting emissions.

This report considers the options for implementing a building performance standard across a broader scope of buildings and geography than a single city or state: federally owned or leased buildings, which comprise 1 billion square feet across the country.

This document will be of most immediate use to policymakers that are preparing to implement or are already implementing a BPS policy. In addition to specific recommendations, the guide presents a broad overview of the many aspects of implementing a BPS and thus is a valuable resource for policy planning as well as developing appropriations requests.

The Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) has prepared a framework for local governments, community and industry stakeholders interested in building performance standards that provides guidance on how to plan and coordinate the different policy components to achieve equitable outcomes. The USDN has also hosted a series of BPS webinars that are available on demand that provide background for local governments, community members, and industry professionals.

The Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) has prepared a series of BPS-related resources that provide information on building performance standards, including a fact sheet on how cities can benefit from these policies, and a matrix Comparison of U.S. Building Performance Standards that compares the requirements of existing BPS in U.S. cities and states. Additionally, IMT has also created a Model Ordinance that is intended to provide sample language for a BPS ordinance in a jurisdiction.

This document developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Task Force for Building Decarbonization provides an overview of the BPS development process, including considerations such as performance target-setting, implementation and enforcement timelines, equitable policy application, and compliance support. ASHRAE also compiled a list of BPS Resources and Publications that provide an overview of BPS policy elements, performance metrics, relation with new construction, and available compliance tools.

Provides information about benchmarking and transparency policies, describes key considerations for success, and demonstrates how government leaders have used benchmarking to help enact a BPS.