California and Washington D.C. were the first to enact energy benchmarking and disclosure laws back in 2007 and 2008. Since then, more than 40 US jurisdictions have followed suit, with every one of these laws using the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager as the compliance mechanism.

More recently, building performance standards (BPS) have been put into place to set prescribed levels of energy performance or greenhouse gas emissions, that buildings much reach by specific deadlines. Local and state governments implement customized BPS programs with requirements to fit their specific needs.

In general, a BPS contains a performance target, such as the specific level of energy use per square foot, and a timeframe by which buildings must meet their target. Penalties may be imposed on buildings that fail to reach the target. BPS are a relatively new policy tool, like energy codes for newly constructed buildings, however BPS address existing buildings and provide the greatest opportunity for immediate improvement.

With 30 years of experience under their belt working with building owners and managers, the EPA helps local and state governments implement and enforce their BPS laws. In turn, the burden on building owners and managers is reduced and they can focus on improving their building’s performance and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.