This matrix compares the requirements of commercial building energy benchmarking and transparency policies in cities and states around the U.S. This document is updated regularly as new policies pass or existing policies are updated. It is part of a suite of matrices that provide quick, high-level comparisons of policy types across jurisdictions. Other matrices in this … Continued
Worldwide, commercial building energy benchmarking and disclosure mandates are becoming more common as policymakers target the building sector in energy and climate protection policies. As such, policymakers are becoming more attuned to building energy performance mandates. These mandates are primarily aimed at existing buildings, which comprise the vast majority of the building stock and present … Continued
In addition to allowing building owners to track and compare their buildings' performance over time and against peers, building energy benchmarking and transparency policies allow other market stakeholders and local governments to make smarter decisions and investments, reward efficiency, and drive wide-spread, continuous improvement. This white paper, which summarizes a collaborative project by Rutgers University, … Continued
What is energy benchmarking and why is it important? The core energy efficiency policy that IMT supports is the benchmarking and transparency of buildings’ energy use. Benchmarking means measuring a building’s energy use and then comparing it to the average for similar buildings. It allows owners and occupants to understand their building’s relative energy performance, … Continued
IMT and the Britt/Makela Group (BMG), with support from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), have developed a guide to help those with Simple Buildings comply with the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Though the goal of the guide is to make the energy code more accessible for anyone who is interested, the target … Continued
Establishing a Plan to Achieve Energy Code Compliance in Cities, a new resource developed by the City Energy Project, helps guide U.S. city leadership and their building department leadership in working together to implement an effective strategy to achieve high levels of energy code compliance for new and renovated buildings. The document introduces factors responsible … Continued
Buildings account for more than 40% of the total energy consumption in the U.S., and addressing their energy use is key to reaching a city’s carbon reduction targets. IMT helps cities engage their building owners, managers, tenants and finance stakeholders in all areas of building efficiency to reduce carbon emissions and bolster local economic development. … Continued
Driven by a need to foster economic development, create jobs, and address environmental concerns, cities are increasingly recognizing the need to encourage investment in building performance with creative financing mechanisms. Making the largest impact possible with limited funds can be challenging. However, cities now have an abundance of governmental and private sector tools available to … Continued
What to expect under the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code Building Officials descended upon Atlantic City, New Jersey in October to attend the International Code Council’s (ICC) Public Comment Hearings and decide the final version of the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The IECC is updated every three years and serves as the national … Continued
Together, the Leading Builders of America–which represents 20 of the nation’s largest builders accounting for 40 percent of the new single-family homes market–the Institute for Market Transformation, the Britt/Makela Group and the Natural Resources Defense Council have proposed a change to the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) that would result in significant energy savings, … Continued