Multiple resources are available to assist state and local governments in understanding the components of a BPS and the process for establishing this type of policy in their jurisdiction.
Getting Started
EPA Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards Policy Toolkit
The Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards Policy Toolkit created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aims to inform and support state and local government decision makers who are exploring adopting policies focused on reducing energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from existing commercial and multifamily buildings in their communities. This toolkit offers background information on key considerations for benchmarking and BPS policy design, cross-jurisdictional coordination, and data access.
ASHRAE Building Performance Standards Overview
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.
IMT Building Performance Standards Resources
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.
USDN Building Performance Standards Framework
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.
Metric Selection and Target-Setting
Better Buildings – Setting Carbon Goals and Tracking Progress
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Better Buildings has put together a list of resources that can provide guidance on what to consider when setting a carbon-related goal and what data is needed to track it. The site offers several resources for target-setting, how to develop a greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) inventory, and how to track GHG data.
ASHRAE Building Performance Standards: A Technical Resource Guide
To support policymakers and interested professionals in this process, ASHRAE convened a BPS Working Group under its Task Force on Building Decarbonization (TFBD) that is working to produce a Technical Resource Guide that guides jurisdictions through the target-setting process and outlines the available methodology options. The guide also provides additional background in metric selection.
Data and Tools
Better Buildings – Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards: A Resource Compendium
The U.S. DOE Better Buildings has put together a list of resources to help navigate tools and procedures for tracking, reporting, and compliance with benchmarking and building performance standards.
Building Energy Data Sharing and Analysis Tools for BPS Implementation
The following list of tools can be used for accessing, managing, analyzing and sharing building energy data in support of Building Performance Standards.
Title | Author | Description |
---|---|---|
ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | This tool facilitates building performance reporting and benchmarking and the Energy Star score can also be used as the BPS metrics to set targets. |
Building Energy Audit Template | U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) | This is an online portal which cities can use to collect standardized information about a building’s physical systems and recommended upgrades. Auditors use the mobile-friendly interface to submit data. |
Standard Energy Efficiency Data (SEED) Platform™ | U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) | This tool is a central database for city BPS data that merges information from Portfolio Manager, Audit Template, and other city datasets in one place. |
BETTER (Building Efficiency Targeting Tool for Energy Retrofits) | U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) | The BETTER tool identifies cost-saving energy and emissions reductions in buildings and portfolios without site visits or complex modeling. |
Asset Score | U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) | This tool assesses the energy efficiency of a building’s physical systems and produces an Energy Asset Score report. |
ComStock and ResStock | U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) | ComStock and ResStock are building stock-level diagnostic tools. States, municipalities, utilities and manufacturers can use them to identify high-impact improvements and make better program decisions. |