This measure provides technical and financial assistance to help municipal and school buildings achieve net zero operations through energy efficiency, electrification, and other clean energy investments. By leading by example with high-performance standards, retrofitting facilities with renewable energy and efficient technologies, and supporting comprehensive building energy management[EW1] , local governments can reduce GHG emissions, lower utility costs, and improve indoor environments. The measure also strengthens community engagement, expands access to resources and incentives, and encourages broader adoption of sustainable practices across public and private sectors

KEY ACTIONS

1. Meet statewide High-Performance Buildings Act requirements to ensure new and renovated buildings meet efficiency requirements.
2. Ensure all new government buildings meet LEED standards.
3. Develop building energy performance standards and best practices for all public facilities. Track energy use and emissions to inform project selection to cost-effectively reduce emissions.
4. Retrofit public buildings with solar panels and EV charging stations, prioritizing more affordable on-site solar installations that do not trigger grid upgrade requirements.
5. Increase energy audits program participation.
6. Support the transition to LEDs by installing LED streetlights and LEDs in government facilities.
7. Include considerations for embodied carbon when designing new municipal or school facilities
8. Develop a regional communication strategy to inform local governments about available resources and combat misinformation by engaging the public.
9. Develop or clarify zoning to allow for more EV charging facilities.
10. Establish a revolving green fund for energy and water efficiency projects, leveraging resources like DOE's Loan Program Office and similar programs at the state level.
11. Consider energy saving performance contracting options.

Outcomes

This measure aims to empower residents to make informed decisions about energy efficiency and electrification by increasing education and awareness of available utility, state, and federal incentives for home improvements and electric appliances. Through accessible cost-benefit comparisons, support for community-scale aggregation programs like Solarize, prioritization of weatherization, and funding for home energy audits, the goal of this measure is to help households understand their options, reduce energy use, and lower utility bills. By making information and resources more widely available, the measure supports equitable access to clean energy upgrades and encourages broader participation in the transition to efficient, all-electric homes.

KEY ACTIONS

1. Create cost/benefit comparisons between existing gas/oil heating and cooling and electrical heating and cooling.
2. Support community-scale aggregation programs, such as Solarize.
3. Prioritize weatherization before installation of electrification measures.
4. Provide funding for low- to no-cost home energy audits.
5. Develop and distribute user-friendly guides or toolkits explaining available incentives, eligibility, and application processes tailored for homeowners, renters, and landlords.
6. Host in-person or virtual webinar or workshops to walk residents through the benefits of energy efficiency, electrification, and how to access incentives.
7. Establish partnerships with utilities to include energy efficiency information in monthly bills or through targeted communications.

Outcomes

This measure aims to increase energy efficiency in existing commercial and industrial buildings by offering financial incentives and educational outreach programs. *Note - the emissions from industrial buildings are included in the Industry sector, not the Buildings sector. This measure is cross-cutting.
Providing funding, technical assistance, and support for clean energy lending helps building owners, especially in underserved markets, overcome barriers to upgrading their facilities. Outreach efforts and partnerships with community organizations and utilities ensure that building owners and managers are aware of available resources, best practices, and incentive programs, making it easier to implement energy-saving improvements and reduce emissions.

KEY ACTIONS

1. Provide funding and technical assistance to building owners for scoping projects and combine multiple sources of funding to pay for building upgrades. Prioritize underserved markets.
2. Support clean energy lending programs, such as C-PACE.
3. Provide financial support or incentives for low- to no-cost energy audits for small businesses.
4. Research mechanisms for local businesses to cost-effectively pursue energy efficiency upgrades in their buildings and operations, including on-bill financing and tax incentives.
5. Explore creative funding opportunities, including working with local lenders and the philanthropic community, to provide zero-interest, short term loans for retrofitting and upgrading public housing.
6. Install energy efficiency upgrades in public schools.
7. Create a voluntary energy performance tracking and annual reporting program for commercial and large multi-family or mixed-use buildings. A recognition program for high-performing buildings could incentivize participation and promote the efforts of participating businesses to the public.
8. Conduct outreach and educational campaigns on available incentive programs and facilitate connections between building managers and energy audit programs.
9. Partner with community-based organizations and utilities to educate building owners, including non-profits, places of worship, and small businesses on best practices for decarbonization, as well as any resources and rebate programs from utilities.
10. Facilitate connections between commercial and industrial building energy managers and utilities to conduct energy audits and support knowledge sharing on tangible ways to decrease energy consumption.

Outcomes

This measure reduces GHG emissions through encouraging the design, construction, and operation of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings above current code requirements. By promoting advanced standards such as passive house design, solar-ready construction, and energy efficiency incentives, the measure aims to significantly reduce building energy use, lower emissions, and enhance comfort and resilience. Supporting above-code development through incentives, recognition, and technical resources helps drive innovation and showcases the benefits of high-performing, sustainable buildings to the broader community.

KEY ACTIONS

1. Promote and incentivize passive house design in new construction. Create voluntary tax incentives or recognition programs for homeowners and/or builders.
2. Incentivize solar- and EV-ready development through tax incentives. Research and promote the ROI of developing buildings with these standards.
3. Leverage density bonuses to incentive land use patterns that are energy efficient and improve access to high quality affordable housing.
4. Under the authority granted by Virginia Code §58.1-3221.2, create a separate property tax class for energy-efficient buildings, including those exceeding the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code energy standards by 30% or that meet standards for the Green Globes, LEED, EarthCraft House Program, or federal ENERGY STAR programs.
5. Support buildings that have already implemented energy efficiency upgrades though initiating and coordinating a voluntary benchmarking and recognition program for new high performing buildings.
6. Adopt C-PACE, if not already locally adopted, and better promote it to commercial building owners to encourage energy efficiency upgrades in the commercial sector.
7. Investigate novel or creative options to encourage above-code development.

Outcomes

forthcoming