Last week, President Joe Biden launched a Building Performance Standards Coalition, a first-of-its kind partnership between 33 city, county and state governments.
As part of the coalition, $1.8 billion will be made available to state and local governments through the U.S. Department of Energy to expand building retrofits and policy implementation throughout the nation.
Participating cities include Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C., which together encompass more than 20 percent of the nation’s population and approximately 20 percent of the country’s building footprint, according to the official White House fact sheet.
In addition D.C., Annapolis, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland are also participating.
The coalition is committed to “cleaner, healthier and more affordable buildings,” per a release, and will look to provide a shared framework for sustainable building performance.
“Energy efficiency improvements and electrification in multifamily buildings improve indoor air quality, eliminate drafts and protect residents from extreme heat — delivering health benefits and lower health care costs,” the White House stated. “For businesses, high-performing buildings are not only good for the world, they are good for the bottom line — attracting higher occupancy rates and generating more revenue.”
Ultimately, the goal is to advance legislation and regulations in each of the government bodies involved by April 2024.
“Montgomery County is honored to join this impressive group of local and state leaders working toward smart, achievable goals to reduce greenhouse gases by implementing innovative and equitable building performance standards,” Marc Elrich, Montgomery County’s county executive, said in a prepared statement.
