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Building performance standards are a powerful solution to reduce carbon emissions from existing buildings
With more than 87 billion square feet of commercial floorspace across the U.S., building performance standards (BPS) have emerged as a policy approach with tremendous potential to address energy use in existing building stock. In a series of three blogs, NBI offers an overview about why reducing the carbon footprint of existing buildings is critical, provides clarity around the terminology and mechanisms used in BPS policy, and details some of the ways in which BPS can be leveraged to improve public health outcomes, increase resilience, create jobs and strengthen the economy.
Implementing Building Performance Standards: Consistency is Key
by Kim Cheslak, Director of Codes
A building performance standard (BPS) provides a powerful solution for cities working to meet climate goals, achieve energy savings and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As a forward-looking policy for existing buildings, a BPS commits a city or state to a long-term, high-performance standard (i.e. energy or carbon intensity), with interim targets that ratchet up over time. While just one state and three major U.S. cities have passed BPS legislation to date, New Buildings Institute (NBI) is working with an increasing number of jurisdictions that are developing mandatory BPS policies as a way to achieve ambitious energy and emissions reductions targets.
by Maurissa Brown, RAY Fellow
This summer, as a record number of uncontained wildfires burned along the West Coast, residents feverishly checked websites such as PurpleAir to determine if it was safe to go outside. Every year, wildfires raise awareness about the impacts of poor air quality on human health. And every year, once the smoke and ash clear, many people return to assuming their air is safe to breathe.

The reality is more than 21.2 million Americans live in counties with unhealthy levels of year-round particulate pollution, according to the latest “State of the Air” report. Long-term exposure to unhealthy air can trigger respiratory problems, which can compound other health symptoms such as those resulting from COVID-19.
by Kim Cheslak, Director of Codes
We all know too well of the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These impacts are compounded by increasingly destructive wildfires, hurricanes, and flooding – so much so that nearly two-thirds of Americans – including more than half of Republicans and 83% of Democrats – feel the federal government should act more aggressively to address climate change, according to a June 2020 poll by Pew Research Center.

Now, there is an opportunity to address both the economic and climate challenges we face with stimulus plans that jumpstart the post-COVID economy. These investments would transition the built environment to a clean energy, low-carbon future and promote healthier work and living spaces. Those working or studying from home, have likely become tuned-in to the ways in which things like temperature control, fresh air, and daylighting impact daily moods and productivity.
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