Building Performance Standard Resource Library
The Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) has compiled publicly available resources on building performance standards (BPS) from local, state, and federal governments as well as nonprofit organizations leading the field. IMT will continue to add new resources as they become available. Explore IMT’s maps and policy comparisons for more details on BPS policies across the U.S. If you have a resource to suggest, please contact us.
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Policy development Policy adoption Alternative compliance Equity Policy parameters Target setting
The short model law provides language for a BPS ordinance. The streamlined law, and its greater reliance on rulemaking, make it particularly well-suited for states passing a BPS.
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Policy development Policy adoption Alternative compliance Equity Policy parameters Target setting
The model law provides language for a BPS ordinance and key considerations in determining which items to include in the policy
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Policy development Policy implementation Outreach & engagement Coordination with other policies & programs Building list & stock analysis Policy parameters Target setting Implementation needs Stakeholder engagement Supportive programs Utility support
The guide recommends strategies, processes, and rules that state and local jurisdictions can use to implement equitable building performance standards. It corresponds with IMT’s model law for BPS and provides details on setting standards, alternative compliance, management of the policy, and coordination with other policies
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Policy development Policy implementation Policy adoption Outreach & engagement Coordination with other policies & programs Alternative compliance Equity Policy parameters Target setting Stakeholder engagement Utility support
This paper provides an overview of IMT’s model ordinance as well as recommendations on the best way to develop and implement a BPS
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Policy development Coordination with other policies & programs Codes coordination
This brief explores how new construction codes in several sample jurisdictions compare to existing or proposed BPS thresholds and provides examples of where new construction code-level designs are falling short. Additionally, it explores methods to bridge the gap between new and existing buildings, the potential and limitations of each method, and the need to shift industry thinking towards a holistic, performance lifecycle approach.
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Policy development Policy compliance Costs Impacts
The final report, drafted by DOEE, contains a summary review of existing industry cost/benefit research, the technical assessment of 13 buildings representative of the largest property types in the District, a short analysis of other property types, and a summary of findings.
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Policy development Building list & stock analysis Benchmarking
This document provides an overview of the process and key considerations for developing a Covered Buildings List (CBL) for a Building Performance Standard (BPS). It is intended for BPS or benchmarking policy administrators and implementers to help plan the process and level of effort needed to develop a CBL. It does not provide detailed technical guidance on data processing.
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Policy development Policy parameters
EPA statement recommending NOT to use net energy metrics in BPS as it creates risk for achieving BPS Goals
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Policy development Policy implementation Outreach & engagement Incentives & finance Building list & stock analysis Benchmarking Policy parameters Implementation needs Stakeholder engagement
The document provides an overview of BPS requirements and offers information on key decision points. It covers benchmarking, BPS, state and local coordination, and data access.
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Policy development Costs Impacts Incentives & finance
This includes the steps taken to determine the appropriate penalty cost for Energize Denver Building Energy Performance Requirements.
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Policy development Policy parameters
It provides an overview of a framework for choosing metrics for BPS, then discusses various metrics for commercial buildings, and discusses source vs site energy metrics.
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Policy development Policy parameters
EPA convened a workshop to discuss metrics to include in BPS and ended up creating this document with recommendations and background on why those metrics are recommended
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Policy development Software & tools
The short report provides an overview of BPS, how EnergyStar is important, why mandates are important, and how it overlaps with LEED.
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Policy development Costs Impacts Target setting
The paper provides a case study on how Vancouver set BPS targets without having significant local data available. It also includes cost estimates for different compliance or retrofit options.
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Policy development Impacts Policy parameters
The paper covers three analyses that examined building energy data as a way to evaluate and design city-level policies for reducing emissions. The cities included were Aspen, CO, Berkeley, CA, and Seattle, WA.
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Policy development Policy adoption Outreach & engagement Equity Policy parameters Target setting Stakeholder engagement
The paper looks at how the city of Denver passed an ambitious BPS with consensus, including lessons learned and how cities can follow a similar path.
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Policy development Policy adoption Outreach & engagement Impacts Policy parameters Target setting Stakeholder engagement
The paper provides an overview of Boston’s BPS policy design and stakeholder engagement process. It includes details on the input from stakeholders and how that shaped the technical analysis completed and the final policy.
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Policy implementation Software & tools
The paper provides an overview of SEED and BEAM tools and how they can support BPS implementation and compliance
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Policy development Policy implementation Coordination with other policies & programs Software & tools Codes coordination Policy parameters Target setting
The paper presents strategies to align new construction codes with BPS across several jurisdictions. The paper includes resources needed to facilitate design and adoption of BPS and what supportive structures are needed for BPS.
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Policy development Policy compliance Costs Impacts Incentives & finance Building list & stock analysis Target setting
The report provides policy makers with the technical information relevant to setting building performance standards for Montgomery County. The study also includes case studies on how energy performance standards can be achieved and an estimate of total capital investment to reach standards.
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Policy implementation Policy parameters Target setting
The purpose of this study, required by the act that created DC’s BEPS, was to assess which combination of policy structures, metrics, and compliance pathways would serve as the optimal BEPS policy in the District for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The report looked at a number of policy structures as well as metrics.
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Policy development Equity Policy parameters Target setting
The brief includes a summary of IMT’s model ordinance performance standard, and complements the ordinance with additional information.
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Coordination with other policies & programs Codes coordination
The document presents what areas to consider in regulating both new construction and existing buildings, and what actions cities can take to think about the two together (a lifecycle approach to regulation)
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Policy development Impacts Target setting
Provides an overview of targets or policy parameters to consider to prioritize demand flexibility in a BPS
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Policy development Equity Policy parameters
The brief provides an overview of how to integrate indoor air quality and ventilation requirements can be integrated into BPS policy development
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Policy development Alternative compliance Equity Policy parameters
The brief outlines how jurisdictions can integrate resiliency into BPS policy development
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Policy development Policy implementation Outreach & engagement Incentives & finance Equity Policy parameters Stakeholder engagement Supportive programs
The brief summarizes interviews with stakeholders in affordable housing space and provides a starting point for jurisdictions to use in discussions with housing stakeholders during the BPS policy development process
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Policy development Policy implementation Policy compliance Policy adoption Equity Target setting Implementation needs
Overview of the BPS development process, including considerations such as performance target-setting, implementation and enforcement timelines, equitable policy application, and compliance support.
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Policy implementation Policy compliance Coordination with other policies & programs Incentives & finance Codes coordination Implementation needs
This two-page needs assessment provides the industry needs to establish and implement the BPS from the market perspective.
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Policy development Outreach & engagement Stakeholder engagement
It describes Boston’s process of identifying need for a policy, approach to policy-making process, and lessons learned for other cities.
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