Building Performance Standards
Resource Libarary

Explore our curated collection of Builiding Performance Standards Resources to help policy makers create meaningful standards and building owners effectively understand and implement them.

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

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Building Performance Standard Module: Housing Affordability

This document is meant as an introductory brief for jurisdictions working on BPS to develop strategies, policies, and programs that address housing affordability and counteract displacement in that context. There is no one-size-fits all solution to addressing the myriad of issues related to housing affordability across jurisdictions, but this document seeks to describe the landscape of considerations and propose vetted paths forward.

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C40 Knowledge

Boston: Engaging communities on inclusive building policies

The City of Boston's 2019 Climate Action Plan (CAP) update identified high-priority strategies to accelerate progress toward the goal of making carbon neutral by 2050.

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C40 Knowledge

Portland: Closing the racial justice gap through building policy

The City of Portland has an ambitious commitment to be fossil-free by 2050 through its 100% Renewable Energy Resoultion, and the city is also a signatory to the C40 Net Zero Carbon Buildings Declaration.

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How to Prepare for Building Performance Standards: An Interview with New Buildings Institute

The standards experts at NBI explain how building owners and developers can get ready for ambitious clean-energy ordinances happening in cities and states throughout the U.S.

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Toronto's Green Will Initiative: Driving climate action in private commercial buildings

The Green Will Initiative creates a coalition of commercial building owners, propoerty managers and other stakeholders who are committed to addressing greenhouse gas emissions in Toronto's buildings.

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OUTCOME-BASED CODES FOR CITIES

This document provides jurisdictions with a new approach to shift their focus towards actual, measurable energy results and provides guidance for incorporating an outcome-based compliance path into current energy codes. The guide includes draft regulatory language as a framework around which jurisdictions can begin to align their energy goals through their building codes

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20% STRETCH CODE PROVISIONS

The 20% Stretch Code Provisions measures are the first outcome of a larger project that is focused directly on the technical development of stretch codes and standards, and on support for jurisdictions in adopting and implementing these policies. As jurisdictions move forward with the adoption of codes and policies that support building stock performance improvement, a set of increasingly stringent performance metrics are anticipated, ranging from a 20% improvement over baseline code performance to a policy that delivers zero energy performance in buildings.

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MOVING ENERGY CODES FORWARD: A GUIDE FOR CITIES AND STATES

Moving Energy Codes Forward: A Guide for Cities and States provides critical steps to achieve significant code improvements through the adoption of stretch codes and provides a practical framework for implementing advanced codes and outcome policies. It offers guidance, resources and examples of advanced code adoption based on New Buildings Institute's stretch code development and adoption experience working with states and communities.

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Model Stretch Code Provisions for a 20% Performance Improvement in New Commercial Construction

This summary document describes a set of code strategies that represent a 20% performance improvement for commercial buildings over the ASHRAE 90.1-2013 code baseline (and approximately similar savings over the IECC 2015 baseline).

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Understanding the Housing Affordability Risk Posed by Building Performance Policies

The costs of building energy improvement could be prohibitive for many affordable multifamily property owners and managers, but exempting them misses an opportunity to decarbonize buildings and improve energy equity for residents. This paper identifies potential solutions for improved energy performance of affordable housing.

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Using Building Performance Standards to Advance Electrification

Electrification is a key component of a comprehensive city decarbonization strategy. How can cities use building performance standards to advance electrification?

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