Building Performance Standards (BPS)
As part of Oregon’s commitment to reducing energy use and emissions, the 2023 Oregon Legislative Session passed House Bill 3409, introducing new Building Performance Standards (BPS). These standards target large commercial and multifamily buildings, ensuring they improve energy efficiency and meet specific energy use targets. BPS focuses on reducing energy use and emissions from existing commercial buildings, pushing for more sustainable energy management practices. Large commercial buildings will need to implement energy efficiency measures based on ASHRAE Standard 100 to meet energy use targets. BPS is managed by the Oregon Department of Energy.
Building Categories:
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Tier 1 Buildings:
- Includes non-residential commercial buildings, hotels, and motels over 35,000 square feet.
- These buildings will need to meet BPS compliance standards.
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Tier 2 Buildings:
- Includes multifamily residential buildings, hospitals, schools, dormitories, and university buildings over 35,000 square feet.
- Non-residential commercial buildings, hotels, and motels between 20,000 and 35,000 square feet are also included.
- These buildings will need to conduct energy benchmarking and reporting.
Notifications:
ODOE recently sent notifications through the U.S. Postal Service to building owners across the state who are believed to be subject to the Building Performance Standard. The dataset was created to capture as many of covered building owners as possible, if you either did not receive a notification and think you should have; or if you did receive a notification and believe you do not own a covered building, please contact ODOE.
Compliance Timeline:
- Benchmarking: Required by July 1, 2028.
- Reporting: Begins between June 1, 2028, and June 1, 2030, starting with buildings over 200,000 square feet.
By participating in the BPS program, businesses will contribute to Salem’s climate goals, helping reduce overall energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. For more details, visit the Oregon Department of Energy’s webpage on Building Performance Standards.
Resources:
Energy Trust of Oregon has created on-demand trainings on the Building Energy Performance Standards program for large commercial buildings.
Building Performance Standard Basics
Exemptions and Historic Buildings information
Energy Professionals information
Incentives and Penalties information
Frequently Asked Questions
Tutorial video on the Property Inventory List
Full Oregon Building Performance Standard ODOE Podcast on the BPS Program
