Decarbonizing our building stock requires a comprehensive set of actions, occurring in parallel and phased in over time, across different sectors and levels of government. NEEP's Building Decarbonization Public Policy Framework lays out the pathway. A successful transition to zero carbon [buildings] will require market transformation with advanced technological solutions, and equitable and fair policy mechanisms. Critical policy areas include comprehensive state and utility policy, building regulation, and federal regulation, as well as alignment with evaluation, measurement, and verification (EM&V). In addressing building emissions, it is important to consider these strategies:
- Enabling grid optimization with building-level zero carbon energy production and developing power systems with zero-carbon energy;
- Deploying widespread energy efficiency measures, especially deep energy retrofits;
- Fuel switching gas and heating oil with renewable fuels, such as renewable electric and thermal technology;
- Integrating buildings as grid assets;
- Implementing zero energy/carbon building energy codes; and
- Establishing strong performance standards for new and existing buildings.