Resource · status as of September 2026
Building performance standards and benchmarking laws
Cities and states across our footprint now require large buildings to report energy use, and several fine owners whose emissions exceed a cap. Here is what applies where, and how ecoSEMS, storage and solar close the gap.
Fines
Standards with financial penalties
| Jurisdiction | Who is covered | Requirement | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, Local Law 97 | Buildings over 25,000 sq ft | Annual carbon caps by building type, 2024–2029 limits in force, 2030 limits about 20–30% tighter; annual reports due May 1 | $268 per ton of CO2e over the cap |
| Boston, BERDO 2.0 | 35,000 sq ft or 35 units and larger (20,000 sq ft from 2030) | Emissions caps declining to net zero by 2050; emissions compliance began 2025 for large buildings | $234 per ton alternative compliance payment plus $300–1,000 per day for non-compliance |
| Cambridge, BEUDO | Non-residential 100,000 sq ft and larger (25,000 sq ft from 2030) | Emissions reductions from 2026 to net zero by 2035 (2050 for smaller buildings) | $234 per ton plus $300 per day |
| St. Louis, BEPS | 50,000 sq ft and larger | Site EUI targets by building type; first compliance May 4, 2025; standards reset 2026 and every five years | Fines for non-compliance under city ordinance |
| Philadelphia, BEPP | 50,000 sq ft and larger | Benchmarking plus building tune-ups every five years; 2026 deadline June 30 | $300 per day late |
Disclosure
Benchmarking and reporting requirements
| Jurisdiction | Threshold | Deadline / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota (statewide, M.S. 216C.331) | Over 100,000 sq ft since 2025; over 50,000 sq ft from June 1, 2026 in the metro and larger cities | Manufacturing and agricultural buildings exempt; Minneapolis runs its own ordinance |
| Chicago Energy Benchmarking | 50,000 sq ft and larger | Relaunched March 2026; a performance standard is under discussion |
| Massachusetts Large Building Energy Reporting | 20,000 sq ft and larger statewide | 2025 data was due June 30, 2026 |
| New Jersey | Commercial 25,000 sq ft and larger | July 1 annually; non-compliance bars state rebate access |
| Detroit | Commercial and multifamily over 100,000 sq ft | Annual reporting since 2024 |
| Ann Arbor | Over 20,000 sq ft | June 1 annually; performance standard in planning |
| Columbus | Large commercial buildings | June 1 annually (energy, water, GHG) |
| Indianapolis | 50,000 sq ft and larger | Public disclosure from 2026 |
| Madison | Commercial 25,000 sq ft and larger | Report by June 30, 2026; tune-up for 100,000 sq ft and larger by Oct 30, 2026 |
| Milwaukee | Commercial 50,000 sq ft and larger | 2025 data due Sept 30, 2026 |
| Kansas City | 50,000 sq ft and larger | May 1 annually |
| Des Moines | 25,000 sq ft and larger | Annual; no penalties |
| NYC Local Laws 84 and 87 | 25,000 sq ft and larger | Annual benchmarking; audits and retro-commissioning every ten years |
Thresholds and deadlines change; confirm with the administering agency. Not listed: jurisdictions with voluntary programs only.
Method
How ecojiva closes a compliance gap
- Model the gap. We calculate your building’s emissions or EUI against the applicable cap for each compliance period and price the penalty exposure.
- Controls first. ecoSEMS optimization typically cuts 15–25% of building energy with no capital, and tracks EUI and emissions continuously for the filing.
- Storage and solar. On-site generation and storage reduce grid electricity and, in most frameworks, the emissions coefficient applied to it.
- Electrification sequencing. Where a heating-fuel switch is needed to meet 2030 caps, we sequence it after the load has been reduced so the electrical service and demand charges stay manageable.
- File and verify. Audit-ready data from the platform supports the annual report and any third-party verification.
