HOW TO POWER BUILDINGS FOR NET-ZERO FUTURE

RAISING THE ACCOUNTABILITY STAKES

As part of the tightening global regulatory landscape, commercial buildings are subject to a broad range of local and national regulatory frameworks. Some of these apply directly to electrification and others are more generalized . This growing momentum runs in parallel to a broader shift towards mandatory sustainability reporting at an organizational level, extending checks and balances to individual buildings. Together, it’s part of aligning building performance with company, then city, and national net zero commitments. Here is just a snapshot of active initiatives worldwide:

Local Law 97 (LL97) Strict emission limits for most NEW YORK CITY, US buildings over 25,000 square feet with cap-and-penalty per tonne of carbon over limit.

Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) Mandated emissions limits for existing large buildings over 20,000 square feet with reporting requirements and penalties. BOSTON, US

Carbon cap-and-penalty program TORONTO, CANADA Emissions caps for existing large buildings over 50,000 square feet with financial penalties for non-compliance.

EUROPEAN UNION

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) Tightening regulations outlining penalties for leasing commercial buildings that do not meet minimum EPC standards. UNITED KINGDOM

FRANCE

Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) Mandated deep upgrades of inefficient buildings and net-zero grade standards for new builds across EU members.

Décret Tertiaire

Outlines that commercial buildings over 1,000 square meters must reduce energy use by 40% by 2030 with mandatory reporting.

SINGAPORE

AUSTRALIA

Cap-and-trade program TOKYO, JAPAN

Green Mark Incentive Scheme & Building Control Act Mandated sustainability standards for large new and upgraded existing buildings with penalties connected to building approvals.

NABERS and commercial building disclosure (CBD) National energy rating scheme underpinning mandatory efficiency disclosure at sale or lease and informing emerging state-level emissions caps.

Mandating carbon intensity reduction for existing large commercial buildings with tradeable carbon credits and compliance monitoring.