Resources for Policymakers
Getting Started
- Contact us at our online help desk to join the Policymaker Network. EPA regularly convenes the network of state and local governments implementing building performance policies to share updates and emerging offerings, encourage best practice sharing, and create a venue for dialogue.
- Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards Policy Toolkit. This 39-page document comprises four sections, each focused on a different aspect of policy development:
- What are Building Performance Standards (BPS)? A good overview for those new to BPS.
Technical Assistance
Benchmarking Policies
- Contact our online help desk for help with:
- Information on existing Portfolio Manager benchmarking activity for your jurisdiction
- Setting up data requests or property-sharing to collect data from building owners.
- Training on Portfolio Manager for your Help Desk staff
- Stakeholder engagement strategies
- Every year EPA provides a “List of Recommended Metrics to Collect.” This encourages collection of common metrics, facilitating research into the effectiveness of policies across jurisdictions. Contact our online help desk to join our mailing list.
- Refer to our List of Portfolio Manager Property Types, Definitions, and Use Details.
- For your building owners and service providers, EPA offers:
- Regular, no-cost Portfolio Manager training
- Year-round, no-cost help desk support
Utility Data Access
- Use EPA’s interactive data access map to see if utilities serving your jurisdiction offer benchmarking data to customers.
- For you: Sample policy language: Utility data access requirements
- For your utilities: How to Compile and Deliver Aggregate Whole-Building Data
- Go deeper and stay in-the-know: ENERGY STAR Data Access Network
Setting Goals and Evaluating Impacts
- AVoided Emissions and geneRation Tool (AVERT): This online tool estimates the detailed impact of electricity changes on GHG and criteria emissions.
- CO-Benefits Risk Assessment (COBRA) Health Impacts Screening and Mapping Tool. This online tool estimates the health co-benefits of policy options due to reduced criteria pollutants.
- Energy Savings and Impacts Scenario Tool (ESIST). This Excel-based planning tool analyzes energy savings and costs from energy efficiency programs and policy scenarios out to 2040, and estimates their impacts on emissions, public health, and energy burdens.
Developing a BPS Framework, Selecting BPS Metrics, and Establishing Targets
- See EPA's recommendations for metrics and normalization methods and statement on net energy metrics.
- Learn about the different options for BPS metrics in EPA’s comprehensive White Paper: Understanding and Choosing Metrics for Building Performance Standards.
- Refer to our List of Portfolio Manager Property Types, Definitions, and Use Details.
- Contact our online help desk for help with:
- Outlining BPS components, including covered buildings, metric selection and normalization, and alternative compliance paths.
- In-depth reviews of draft policy documents
Implementing BPS
- Contact our online help desk for help with setting up data requests or property-sharing.
- For your building owners and service providers, EPA offers:
- Regular, no-cost Portfolio Manager training
- Year-round, no-cost help desk support
Consider Complementary Policies
Benchmarking and BPS policies can work well alongside other programs and policies. EPA has resources to help with several of these:
- Voluntary energy efficiency programs for existing buildings (e.g., Building Competitions, Treasure Hunts)
- Promotion of ENERGY STAR Certification and ENERGY STAR Tenant Space recognition.
- Develop state or local financing programs to fund energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements.
- See the State Guide to Action and Local Action Framework for comprehensive sets of policies that can help state and local governments achieve their environmental goals.
Contact Us
- Contact the ENERGY STAR team at our online help desk.
- Sign up for EPA’s State, Local, and Tribal Energy Newsletters here.