From Theory to Practice: Centering Multifamily Housing to Foster Successful Building Performance Standards

As jurisdictions refine building performance standards (BPS), it is essential to incorporate lessons from early programs to ensure policies are both effective and equitable. This is especially true in the multifamily housing sector, where residents often face the greatest energy burdens and the workforce responsible for building upgrades and compliance plays a critical role.

This interactive panel will bring together perspectives from policy designers, implementers, and building owners/operators to share real-world experiences with BPS. Participants will explore common barriers and pitfalls that arise across the policy lifecycle—from design to deployment and iteration—and discuss practical strategies to address them. The conversation will also highlight how policy decisions influence workforce readiness, training needs, and industry capacity, recognizing that equitable building performance depends on a skilled and supported labor force.

Multifamily buildings present unique challenges, including complex ownership structures, financing constraints, and residents who may already face disproportionate energy costs. At the same time, they offer a significant opportunity to advance equitable climate and energy goals. By applying implementation insights and aligning policy with workforce development, BPS programs can better support multifamily communities while creating accessible, well-supported jobs that strengthen both community resilience and economic opportunity.