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BPS Library

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Setting Carbon Goals and Tracking Progress

Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Resource Page | Focus: Resource Library, Target Setting | Author Category: DOE and National Labs

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.

GHG policy impacts for Seattle’s buildings: targets, timing, and scope

Published: 2021 | Geographic Scope: Regional | Document Type: Case Study | Focus: Define Scope, Target Setting | Author Category: DOE and National Labs

As cities design legislation such as BPS or benchmarking, they must consider the timing of the policies, how to prioritize building types and sizes, and how these design decisions will impact the city’s emissions. This paper addresses these questions for one particular US city: Seattle, Washington. A model of Seattle’s building stock was created with benchmarking and tax assessor data. It was then used to predict GHG emissions reductions due to different policy implementations for existing commercial and multifamily buildings.

Energy Data: Stakeholder Engagement Strategy Guide

Published: 2016 | Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Report | Focus: Stakeholder Engagement

This DOE guide offers tips on framing the energy data access discussion, understanding major stakeholders, identifying key issues, determining the forum for stakeholder engagement, and describing key elements of the engagement process

Boston: Engaging Communities on Inclusive Building Policies

Published: 2021 | Geographic Scope: Regional | Document Type: Document | Focus: Stakeholder Engagement | Author Category: NGO

Summary of some of Boston's community engagement efforts related to inclusive building policies. 

Working with a Community Accountability Board to Co-Design Equitable Building Performance Standards

Published: 2022 | Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Fact sheet/Brief | Focus: Stakeholder Engagement | Author Category: NGO

Jurisdictions and Community-Based Organizations (CBO) can use this quick-reference guide, in conjunction with the full BPS Implementation Guide, to help them establish an empowered and well-resourced CAB.

Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards: A Resource Compendium

Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Resource Page | Focus: Resource Library | Author Category: DOE and National Labs

List of resources to help navigate tools and procedures for tracking, reporting, and compliance with benchmarking and building performance standards.

Building Performance Standards

Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Resource Page | Focus: Resource Library | Author Category: DOE and National Labs

This library gathers resources that provide information on the components of a BPS and the process for establishing this type of policy in a jurisdiction

Building Performance Standards (IMT)

Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Resource Page | Focus: Resource Library | Author Category: NGO

Series of BPS-related resources that provide information on building performance standards, including a fact sheet on how cities can benefit from these policies.

RETROFIT RESOURCE HUB

Geographic Scope: Regional | Document Type: Resource Page | Focus: Resource Library | Author Category: U.S. Jurisdiction

Website with information to help building owners, tenants, and contractors make healthy, climate resilient, and low-carbon building improvements.

Short Model BPS Law

Published: 2022 | Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Fact sheet/Brief | Focus: Policy Design, Stakeholder Engagement | Author Category: NGO

This Short Model BPS Law establishes broad goals and an equitable process by which stakeholders and one or more agencies will work together after passage to craft BPS rules to achieve shared goals. The streamlined law, and its greater reliance on rulemaking, make it particularly well suited for states passing a BPS.

Model Ordinance for a Building Performance Standard

Published: 2021 | Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Report | Focus: Policy Design | Author Category: NGO

This is a template for cities and states to develop building performance standards. It provides structural foundation that can be tailored to individual jurisdictions.

Using Building Performance Standards to Address Carbon Emissions

Published: 2021 | Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Report | Focus: Overview, Policy Design | Author Category: ASHRAE

This document provides an overview of the following key areas for consideration when developing a BPS: 1. Target Setting 2. Implementation and Enforcement 3. Equitable Application and Compliance Support.

ANNOTATED MODEL ORDINANCE LANGUAGE FOR IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF EXISTING BUILDINGS

Published: 2018 | Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Document | Focus: Policy Design | Author Category: NGO

This document presents sample language that can be used by jurisdictions interested in drafting a comprehensive existing building performance policy that encompasses provisions for benchmarking, as well as additional actions beyond benchmarking. The model language, based on best practices that have been identified while working with many of the jurisdictions that have enacted successful policies, can be easily customized by policymakers to meet the unique needs of their city.

Building Performance Standards: Lessons from Carbon Policy

Published: 2020 | Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Report | Focus: Overview, Policy Design | Author Category: NGO

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.

Building Performance Standards: A Lifecycle Approach to Building Decarbonization

Published: 2022 | Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Report | Focus: Overview, Policy Design | Author Category: DOE and National Labs

Provides strategies for aligning new construction codes with BPS to facilitate a “lifecycle” approach to building performance and drive equitable decarbonization. Conclusions  include recommendations for core program components under an equitable BPS implementation model and how to connect a BPS to new construction codes, enabling both new and existing buildings of all covered types to consistently and predictably meet performance targets.

Building Performance Standards: Overview for State and Local Decision Makers

Published: 2021 | Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Report | Focus: Overview, Policy Design | Author Category: EPA

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

Building Performance Standards Overview

Published: 2021 | Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Document | Focus: Overview, Policy Design | Author Category: ASHRAE

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

State and Local Government Coordination: Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards

Published: 2021 | Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Report | Focus: Benchmarking, Policy Design | Author Category: EPA

Describes the varied roles that state and local decisions makers have in establishing existing building policies and opportunities to coordinate across jurisdictions.

Building Performance Standards Needs Assessment

Published: 2021 | Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Fact sheet/Brief | Focus: Overview

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

ASHRAE Building Performance Standards: A Technical Resource Guide

Published: 2023 | Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Report | Focus: Overview, Policy Design | Author Category: ASHRAE

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.

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager

Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Website | Focus: Implementation Software & Tools | Author Category: 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 Efficiency Targeting Tool for Energy Retrofits (BETTER)

Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Website | Focus: Implementation Software & Tools | Author Category: DOE and National Labs

The BETTER tool identifies cost-saving energy and emissions reductions in buildings and portfolios without site visits or complex modeling.

Standard Energy Efficiency Data (SEED) Platform

Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Website | Focus: Implementation Software & Tools | Author Category: DOE and National Labs

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.

Building Energy Audit Template

Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Website | Focus: Implementation Software & Tools | Author Category: DOE and National Labs

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.

ComStock and ResStock

Geographic Scope: National | Document Type: Website | Focus: Implementation Software & Tools | Author Category: DOE and National Labs

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.