Building Performance Standards: A Guide to Energy Mandates
BPS compliance means more than meeting emissions and energy standards on a point-in-time basis. To avoid fines and other penalties, use Attune's remote asset monitoring to pinpoint easy-to-miss emissions spikes and energy inefficiencies. Our advanced building intelligence systems support your efficiency goals by monitoring and recording real-time data, allowing you to identify issues before they compromise your BPS compliance.
The Hard Reality of Mandatory Building Performance Standards
The importance of energy efficiency has grown as governments focus more on reducing greenhouse gases and boosting building energy performance. While builders previously addressed energy efficiency from ethical and money-saving standpoints, new government regulations boost urgency and tighten quality requirements.
Difference Between BPS, LEED, and WELL Certifications
BPS are mandatory policies established by local governments to meet targets for building energy performance. Although Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and WELL certifications provide widely-recognized environmental standards, they are not obligatory under US laws.
LEED is an internationally-recognized green building rating system designed to address environmental factors, including energy and water use, waste management, and indoor environmental quality.
WELL certifications focus on the health and well-being of the people using the building. The standard encompasses air quality, water safety, natural light, and environmental controls for temperature and humidity.
Examples of Successful Building Performance Standards
Every local government has different emissions and energy efficiency requirements, depending on their regional needs. An excellent example is New York City’s Local Law 97 (LL97), which establishes carbon emission caps for:
Buildings over 25,000 square feet
Two or more buildings on a lot that combined exceed 50,000 square feet
Two or more condo buildings governed by the same board that combined exceed 50,000 square feet
However, New York is hardly the only city establishing these limits. Seattle, WA has established its own Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS) to address building fossil fuel usage. The program sets progressively stronger greenhouse gas emissions targets for non-residential and multifamily buildings greater than 20,000 square feet.
In fact, as interest in environmentally-responsible building grows, cities and states across the country are creating energy benchmarking policies for new and existing structures. Companies have been pivoting to environmentally-friendly options for years, both to meet consumer ethics concerns and to save money on energy. Now, in addition to reducing operational costs, building owners avoid the financial risks of non-compliance.
Decoding Energy Use Intensity and Emissions Targets
Whether you’re bringing a multifamily building or commercial structure up to standard, meeting building performance standards is no longer optional in many places. Building performance standards are government-established requirements for emissions and energy efficiency, and there are penalties for missing required benchmarks. Most regulatory entities use energy use intensity (EUI) and greenhouse gas monitoring to establish regulatory thresholds.
EUI limits create a threshold for energy usage per square foot per year. This limit typically varies based on the type of building. For instance, hospitals, offices, municipal facilities, and residential properties all require different levels of energy consumption.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) limits measure direct emissions from fuel burned by the building’s systems, as well as indirect emissions created the building’s energy usage through utility companies and set a limit based on these metrics.
By benchmarking and target setting, BPS policies reduce state and local energy usage and GHG emissions from commercial and multifamily buildings. Regular reporting on emissions and utility use allows local and state entities to keep an eye on buildings as they work to meet established BPS requirements.
Why Your Annual Audit Isn’t a Compliance Strategy
When you’re trying to reduce emissions to meet BPS regulations, point-in-time audits don’t provide the visibility you need to maintain compliance. Continuous monitoring lets you identify energy waste and equipment inefficiencies before they affect your BPS compliance and drain your energy budget.
Rather than continuing with outdated annual audit methods, use continuous commissioning for building performance to maintain your BPS performance year-round. Attune’s advanced building monitoring and intelligence systems provide consistent monitoring to compile data, provide insights, and facilitate prompt action to keep your building in compliance.
Managing Compliance Across Complex Building Portfolios
When you’re handling a complex building portfolio with mixed-age buildings or wider distribution across multiple regions, you may find yourself addressing the following issues while trying to meet BPS requirements:
Different system controls: Climate control systems from different eras have different controls and quirks, making it more challenging to automate and control energy usage across buildings.
Inconsistent envelope makeup: Older buildings may have poor insulation, isolated wings, unvented masonry, and other complications that require unique insulation and sealing methods.
Data segmentation: Mixed-use buildings, blended architecture, and inconsistent equipment make it hard to pinpoint and fix BPS violations.
Varying building regulations: Modifications to meet BPS requirements must meet state and local zoning laws, fire codes, and historic preservation requirements.
Localized BPS thresholds: Every locality has different BPS regulations you need to be aware of for properties distributed across different regions.
Centralized visibility and real-time tracking across all your buildings helps you identify unique issues earlier, so you can address them before they become compliance issues. It also simplifies ESG reporting and helps you prioritize issues for faster, smoother operational decision making.
Taking the First Steps Toward BPS Compliance
To comply with BPS, establish a baseline limit for energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Use real-time tracking to keep an eye on your key metrics, and use this data to prioritize improvements like better insulation, energy-efficient appliances, or Energy Star certified windows. Continuous asset condition monitoring with Attune provides clear, actionable historic data to help you identify and address areas for improvement, so you don’t get stuck in a pattern of reactive compliance. Reach out today to schedule a demo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between BPS and LEED?
LEED is a voluntary certification that encompasses energy and water efficiency, waste management, and indoor environmental quality. BPS, on the other hand, are government-mandated GHG emissions and energy efficiency requirements.
How are building performance standards enforced?
State or local governments enforce their own BPS requirements through annual ESG reporting and periodic audits. Buildings that fail to meet progressive targets face heavy financial penalties.
What is Energy Use Intensity (EUI)?
Energy use intensity is a metric used to quantify a building’s energy efficiency in energy per square foot. To calculate EUI, divide your building’s total annual energy consumption by its gross floor area.
Can real-time monitoring help avoid BPS fines?
Yes, real-time monitoring can help avoid BPS fines by identifying inefficiencies early. This allows you to prioritize upgrades and address problems before they increase your totals in annual ESG reporting.
