Building Energy Performance Benchmarking and Disclosure
IMT provides technical and policy research and consulting to federal, state and local policymakers to facilitate the adoption and implementation of energy performance rating and disclosure mandates for commercial buildings. We also act as a coalition builder between the real estate industry, environmental advocates and national and international policymakers to support the advancement of rating and disclosure policy.
WHY RATE AND DISCLOSE?
Commercial tenants and investors are increasingly looking for energy-efficient buildings with lower energy costs when they lease or buy. But all too often, information on building energy performance is unavailable, making it hard for the market to differentiate between efficient and inefficient properties. As a result, there is little demand for energy-efficient buildings and little competition between owners to improve building performance. The market forces that should be driving investment in building efficiency are absent.
Rating and disclosing the energy performance of buildings can overcome this critical information gap. Transparent energy ratings allow tenants, investors and lenders to compare the energy efficiency of buildings and make smarter decisions, triggering market-based competition to own, operate, lease, finance, design and build the most energy-efficient buildings. Ratings empower building owners and operators to identify opportunities for energy improvement, track progress over time and demonstrate achievement that will be rewarded by the market. Ratings will also increase the accountability of architects, engineers, building operators and policymakers to improve the energy performance of buildings.
- Introduction to Rating and Disclosure Policy
- U.S. Policy Comparison
- Rating Policy Map and Timeline
- IMT White Paper: Rating and Disclosing the Energy Performance of Buildings
LEARN ABOUT U.S. RATING AND DISCLOSURE MANDATES
See our policy summaries for commercial rating and disclosure mandates in:
RATING, BENCHMARKING & DISCLOSURE: LINKS AND RESOURCES
Rating and Disclosure Definitions (IMT and Resource Media)
Model Legislative Language (IMT)
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State and local governments leveraging ENERGY STAR (Updated 1/11/2010)
IMT encourages state and local policymakers interested in help developing benchmarking and disclosure mandate policies to email us at . IMT has limited funding to provide free assistance.

