Cities around the world are setting building performance standards (BPS) as a key measure to cut emissions and meet climate targets, according to a report from JLL.
In the U.S., 13 cities have a BPS in place and more than 30 additional cities plan to pass a BPS by no later than 2026. As of early 2024, these policies already cover about 25% of all buildings in the U.S.
BPS mandate specific building-level energy use and emissions reductions. The limits set by BPS become increasingly stringent over time and typically include sizable fines for non-compliance.
In January 2022, the U.S. launched the National BPS Coalition to help cities move from prescriptive to performance-based codes that require reductions in emissions and energy use, leaving it up to the owners to decide how to meet them. Many building owners will have to retrofit their properties to avoid a financial double whammy.
“Not only are non-compliant properties exposed to escalating fines, but they also face additional increasing risks associated with the fact that they are not low carbon properties,” says JLL’s Jaime del Alamo. “These assets could face indirect liquidity issues, for example, as they may prove more challenging to sell, leading to significant value erosion over time.”
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Jun 15, 2015
Cornell Tech breaks ground on world's first Passive House residential high-rise
To achieve Passive House standards, Cornell Tech Residential will incorporate a number of sustainability-focused design elements. The façade, constructed of a prefabricated metal panel system, acts as a thermally insulated blanket wrapping the building structure.
Green | Jun 10, 2015
GBCI launches rating system for sustainable landscapes
The new SITES rating system can be applied to development projects located on sites with or without buildings, ranging from national parks to corporate campuses, streetscapes and homes, and much more.
Green | Jun 9, 2015
Fuel cell technology makes its way into energy generation
Demand for fuel cells, while modest, is growing, and cost savings are getting noticed.
Green | Jun 8, 2015
Maryland tech firm is developing spray-on solar panels for windows
Made primarily out of hydrogen and carbon, the coating can turn see-through surfaces into solar panels.
Green | Jun 8, 2015
Diamond Schmitt Architects creates tool to compare energy use data across building types
The firm's new ecoMetrics tool allows for a comprehensive analysis of data from energy simulation models across a wide range of the company’s building types.
Multifamily Housing | May 30, 2015
Energy Department releases resources to assess building energy benchmarking policies, programs
The new handbook demonstrates methodologies using real data from New York City.
Cultural Facilities | May 13, 2015
MVRDV selected to design High Line-inspired park in Seoul
The garden will be organized as a library of plants, which will make the park easier to navigate.
Green | May 5, 2015
Top three 2030 Challenge trends
The growth of IPD is among the key takeaways from the USGBC Region 7 Conference.
Wood | Apr 26, 2015
Building wood towers: How high is up for timber structures?
The recent push for larger and taller wood structures may seem like an architectural fad. But Building Teams around the world are starting to use more large-scale structural wood systems.
Green | Apr 23, 2015
3 sustainable projects take top prize in 2015 Global Holcim Awards
Projects from Colombia, Sri Lanka, and the U.S. were chosen by the Holcim Foundation for the impact the projects have on their local communities.