Buildings and Efficiency

Building Performance Standards

A large portion of existing commercial and residential buildings were built without energy efficiency standards, or while adhering to outdated standards. Building performance standards mandate that existing buildings must meet a minimum energy efficiency target, which becomes more stringent over time. Over time, building owners and developers must invest in energy reductions, building retrofits, renovations, and construction/design changes to adhere to the performance requirements. Building performance standards may take the form of a rubric of energy efficiency criteria that buildings must meet, or they may require overall greenhouse gas emissions reductions, independent of technology or approach.

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Glossary of Terms

States with Policy Enacted

In Progress

Partially Enacted

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Key Resources

Glossary of Terms

Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards Policy Toolkit

A toolkit to inform policy makers on how to design building performance standards.

2024

Source:

U.S. EPA

Building Performance Standards

A resource hub with technical assistance, implementation, financing, and resources to assist with the development of building performance standards.

2024

Source:

U.S. EPA

Implementing Building Performance Standards: Consistency is key

A deeper dive on the terminology and components of building performance standards.

2020

Source:

New Buildings Institute

Mandatory Building Performance Standards: A Key Policy for Achieving Climate Goals

A report that details how implementing retrofits of inefficient buildings are essential to address the climate crisis.

2020

Source:

ACEEE

Model Rules

Glossary of Terms

Model Law for Building Performance Standards

A model law to establish a building performance standard at the state or local level.

2021

Source:

Institute for Market Transformation

Model States

Glossary of Terms

Colorado

The Building Performance Colorado program requires buildings greater than 50,000 square feet to reduce emissions 7% by 2026 and 20% by 2030 from a 2021 baseline.

2021

Establishing Policies

Maryland

The Building Energy Performance Standard requires buildings larger than 35,000 square feet to reduce direct emissions from buildings by 20% by 2030, and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.

2022

Establishing Policies

Oregon

The Oregon Department of Energy must promulgate rules for a building performance standard for large commercial buildings greater than 35,000 square feet by December 31, 2024.

2023

Establishing Policies

Washington

The Clean Buildings Performance Standard applies to buildings larger than 20,000 square feet.

2022

Establishing Policies

Glossary of Terms

Filters

Status	State Sort descending	Region	YR Enacted
Not Enacted	Alabama Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Alaska Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	West
Not Enacted	Arizona Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southwest
Not Enacted	Arkansas Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	California Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	West
Enacted	Colorado Empty column The Building Performance Colorado program requires buildings greater than 50,000 square feet to reduce emissions 7% by 2026 and 20% by 2030 from a 2021 baseline. Establishing Policies SB 21-1286 (2021) 5 CCR 1001-32 (2023) Colorado’s Building Performance Program Empty column	West	2021
Not Enacted	Connecticut Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Northeast
Not Enacted	Delaware Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Florida Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Georgia Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southeast
In-Progress	Hawai‘i Empty column Hawaii will receive $18.1M to develop and adopt a building performance standard through the federal Inflation Reduction Act Support for Building Energy Codes and Innovative Codes. Establishing Policies Inflation Reduction Act Support for Building Energy Codes and Innovative Codes – Round 1 (2024) Empty column	West
Not Enacted	Idaho Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	West
Not Enacted	Illinois Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Indiana Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Iowa Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Kansas Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Kentucky Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Louisiana Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Maine Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Northeast
In-Progress	Maryland Empty column The Building Energy Performance Standard requires buildings larger than 35,000 square feet to reduce direct emissions from buildings by 20% by 2030, and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. Establishing Policies SB 528 - Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 (2022) Building Energy Performance Standards Empty column	Southeast	2022
Not Enacted	Massachusetts Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Northeast
Not Enacted	Michigan Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Midwest
In-Progress	Minnesota Empty column Minnesota recieved funding through the Inflation Reduction Act Support for Building Energy Codes and Innovative Codes to adopt, implement, and enforce a building performance standard to reduce emissions from existing buildings by 50% by 2035. Establishing Policies Inflation Reduction Act Support for Building Energy Codes and Innovative Codes – Round 1 (2024) Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Mississippi Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Missouri Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Montana Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	West
Not Enacted	Nebraska Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Nevada Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	West
Not Enacted	New Hampshire Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Northeast
Not Enacted	New Jersey Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Northeast
Not Enacted	New Mexico Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southwest
Not Enacted	New York Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Northeast
Not Enacted	North Carolina Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	North Dakota Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Ohio Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Oklahoma Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southwest
In-Progress	Oregon Empty column The Oregon Department of Energy must promulgate rules for a building performance standard for large commercial buildings greater than 35,000 square feet by December 31, 2024. Establishing Policies HB 3409 (2023) Building Energy Performance Standards Empty column	West	2023
Not Enacted	Pennsylvania Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Northeast
Not Enacted	Rhode Island Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Northeast
Not Enacted	South Carolina Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	South Dakota Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Tennessee Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Texas Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southwest
Not Enacted	Utah Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	West
Not Enacted	Vermont Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Northeast
Not Enacted	Virginia Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southeast
Enacted	Washington Empty column The Clean Buildings Performance Standard applies to buildings larger than 20,000 square feet. Establishing Policies HB 1257 (2019) Chapter 194-50 WAC (2020) SB 5722 (2022) Clean Buildings Performance Standard Empty column	West	2022
Not Enacted	West Virginia Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Wisconsin Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Wyoming Empty column Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. Empty column	West

Building Performance Standards

Key Resources

Model Rules

Model States

Building Performance Standards By State