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Ameresco Report

Beyond Compliance: Turning Building Performance Standards into a Long-Term Facility Strategy

Building Performance Standards (BPS) are changing how municipalities, universities, schools, hospitals, and other facility owners manage building performance. This report explores how organizations can use BPS compliance to strengthen facility asset management, capital planning, energy benchmarking, and energy-efficiency initiatives while reducing operating costs and supporting long-term compliance, facility modernization, and operational performance.
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Whats inside

What's inside this guide...

Why a compliance-only approach to Building Performance Standards can increase risk, delay asset renewal, and weaken long-term capital planning.
How facility asset data, energy benchmarking, Energy Use Intensity (EUI) tracking, and lifecycle analysis support smarter investment decisions.
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Phased approach for improving building performance through controls, automation, energy-efficiency upgrades, electrification, and renewable energy.
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How grants and Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) can help fund facility improvements, including a university case study.

This report is for...

This report is intended for municipalities, higher education institutions, K-12 schools, healthcare organizations, and other facility owners seeking a practical approach to Building Performance Standards compliance, energy management, facility asset planning, and infrastructure modernization. Whether your organization is preparing for new compliance requirements or looking to improve long-term operational performance, this report provides actionable strategies to support informed decision-making and sustainable facility operations.

Building Performance Standards are regulations that require building owners to measure, report, and improve energy performance over time through ongoing performance targets and compliance requirements. Unlike traditional building codes, BPS programs focus on operational performance after construction.

A centralized data foundation provides visibility into building assets, equipment condition, energy use, and maintenance needs, helping organizations prioritize investments, improve reliability, support capital planning, and create a more sustainable path to compliance.

Energy Use Intensity (EUI) measures the amount of energy a building consumes per square foot and is commonly used to evaluate building performance and compliance with Building Performance Standards.

Building energy codes typically apply during design, construction, or renovation. Building Performance Standards establish ongoing energy-performance targets that building owners must meet throughout a building’s lifecycle.

Organizations can improve compliance through energy benchmarking, asset management, building controls, energy-efficiency upgrades, electrification, and renewable energy investments implemented through a phased strategy.

An Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) allows organizations to implement energy-efficiency improvements with reduced upfront capital requirements. Project costs are repaid over time through the energy savings generated by the improvements.

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