3.3.9 Requiring Building Retrofits

LPDD Recommendation: “Congress should consider adopting mandatory retrofit laws for energy conservation and decarbonization in existing commercial and residential buildings, and state legislatures should adopt such laws if the federal government fails to do so.”

ASHRAE Advanced Design Guide Series

Offers contractors and designers tools, including recommendations for practical products and off-the-shelf technology, for achieving a 30% energy savings.

Washington’s State Energy Benchmark Law

In addition to benchmarking requirements for private buildings, Washington’s State Energy Benchmark Law (2009) put in place strict requirements for public buildings, including mandatory investment-grade energy audits.

New York’s Executive Order 88

Requires that public buildings of more than 20,000 sf benchmark their energy consumption annually and implement identified, cost-effective improvements.