Institute for Market Transformation
Julia Eagles is Associate Director of Utility & Regulatory Strategy at the Institute for Market Transformation in Washington, D.C. but is based in Minneapolis.
A growing number of state and local governments are adopting a new policy called Building Performance Standards (BPS) that has the potential to significantly reduce energy, carbon, and water use in existing buildings. Let's dive into how BPS works — what regulators need to know and how the BPS in Washington State is already impacting the buildings market.
What are Building Performance Standards?
Building performance standards are powerful, flexible policies that require large buildings — primarily commercial and multifamily — to meet specified levels of performance that grow more rigorous over time. It does not prescribe how the performance requirement will be met, leaving it to owners to determine the most cost-effective strategy for their particular building.
Jurisdictions may choose to create standards around energy use, carbon emissions, water use, or other areas that reflect their broader climate energy, or social goals. By mandating meaningful improvements to a large portion of a jurisdiction's building stock, a BPS can drive significant change.