Biden Administration launches state, local coalition to boost building performance standards

The Biden Administration has teamed up with states, cities, labor, and industry to create the Building Performance Standards Coalition.

The initiative is “a first-of-its-kind partnership between 33 state and local governments dedicated to delivering cleaner, healthier, and more affordable buildings,” according to a White House news release. “It facilitates new commitments to design and implement building performance standards at the state and local level.”

State and local jurisdictions participating in the program comprise nearly 20% of the nation’s building footprint. One area of focus will be energy efficiency improvements and electrification in multifamily buildings.

The release touts the program as an engine for job creation and a means to lower energy bills for consumers. The administration also announced that the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency would expand technical assistance opportunities that can be accessed by Building Performance Standards Coalition members “to design, measure, and manage local buildings performance policies.”