Managing energy costs for most commercial buildings within a turbulent environment where escalating natural gas and electricity costs are a constant concern can be a tedious and tricky business. To provide general logistics and mentorship in dealing with these necessary utilities moving into the future, Oregon will be enforcing a prominent new policy designed to affect how massive structures deal with a broad range of essential energy needs for a cleaner planet.
Oregon’s newly enacted Building Performance Standard (BPS) will require large buildings over 20,000 square feet to monitor, track, report, and reduce their combined energy usage as compliance deadlines loom as early as 2028. To begin the preparation process to adhere to these new standards, representatives from Energy Trust of Oregon and the Oregon Department of Energy are here to help navigate owners through the necessary requirements. This proactive support includes recommendations on installing energy-saving features to be in full compliance.
“Many commercial building owners are starting to think about what Oregon’s Building Performance Standard means for their buildings,” Energy Trust of Oregon’s Juliette Poff tells CBN. “The earlier they start, the more time they have to understand their energy use, explore their options and make decisions that work for their building and their business.
“What’s important to know is that building owners don’t have to navigate this process alone. Energy Trust of Oregon is here to provide guidance, technical expertise and resources to help them understand their building’s energy performance and find opportunities to improve.”
Oregon’s Building Performance Standard (BPS) was established by the Oregon State Legislature with the passage of House Bill 3409 back in 2023 to improve and refine energy performance specifically in large commercial buildings. As detailed in the upcoming BPS mandate, buildings covered include offices, retail, hotels, restaurants, motels, hospitals, and university facilities. Those buildings with the largest footprint and overall square footage must start meeting the state’s stated performance targets by 2028, with smaller commercial structures phasing in gradually through the early 2030s, or else face fines and penalties.
Energy Trust of Oregon collaborates with commercial property owners across the state to determine energy use, identify beneficial upgrades, and access certain incentives that will help balance out the price of compliance. Employing their extensive experience across all building types and sizes, the Energy Trust team has insights into how organizations are now preparing, identifying emerging challenges, and taking smart steps to stay far ahead of new requirements.
They’re an independent nonprofit conceived to assist people, businesses and communities conserve energy, connect to renewable power like solar and become increasingly resilient.
Through BPS Pathway, Energy Trust provides building owners with guidance, tools and one-on-one support from energy experts to help them prepare. The program includes four virtual workshops focused on BPS requirements and energy management strategies. Participants graduate from the program with a customized Action Plan outlining potential next steps for their building. Eligible participants can receive up to $3,000 in benefits for completing these qualifying energy-saving projects. A number of cash incentives are also available for upgrades in HVAC, lighting, insulation, and retro-commissioning to meet with the BPS rules and lower energy costs.
“Energy Trust of Oregon’s BPS Pathway gives building owners a starting point,” Poff adds. “Through workshops, one-on-one support and customized planning, we help owners better understand the requirements and identify potential improvements and incentives to offset the cost.”
To facilitate the proper transition and preparation process, the Oregon Building Performance Standard (BPS) has also migrated to a new BPS compliance portal called Building Energy Analysis Manager (BEAM) which can be accessed via the Oregon Department of Energy’s official website at oregon.gov/energy/save-energy/pages/bps.aspx.
For questions and answers on certain exemptions, target dates, and more information regarding Energy Trust’s BPS Pathway programs, please visit them at energytrust.org/incentives/commercial-existing-buildings-oregons-building-performance-standard.
