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Smarter Buildings, Wherever You Own or Build

Energy costs, building performance requirements, and efficiency incentives vary by market. Explore how IBIS helps property owners modernize existing buildings and plan efficient new developments in the places where these factors matter most.

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Bisly helps building owners modernize their properties through intelligent building automation.

By optimizing energy consumption and centralizing building controls, Bisly can help you:

Map of selected enacted U.S. building performance standards at state, county and city levels, reproduced from the IBIS September 2026 comparison. — Selected enacted U.S. building performance standards at the state, county, and municipal levels. The map illustrates selected jurisdictions, not every applicable energy or building code. Data reviewed October 2026. Source: IBIS regulatory overview; official jurisdictions listed below.

Reduce Exposure to Costly Penalties
Improve building energy performance to support compliance with local emissions and efficiency regulations.
Lower Energy Bills
Reduce unnecessary HVAC and lighting consumption through intelligent automation.
Unlock Financial Incentives
Qualifying building automation upgrades may be eligible for utility rebates and energy-efficiency incentives, reducing upfront investment.

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Boston skyline across the Charles River, with established and contemporary buildings

Boston Metro

High electricity costs, BERDO obligations, and targeted BMS incentives.

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New York City

Lower operating costs and plan around Local Law 97.

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Downtown Los Angeles buildings with the San Gabriel Mountains in the background

Los Angeles County

High California electricity prices make smarter controls a valuable investment conversation.

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Washington, DC

Improve building performance with BEPS requirements in mind.

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San Diego

Focus on cooling, comfort, and efficient operation in a high-cost electricity market.

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Providence

Pair high electricity costs with Rhode Island Energy’s retrofit programs.

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Market-page electricity figures are 2024 commercial bundled utility averages. Regulations and programs depend on municipality, property type, and utility territory.

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Three Forces Reshaping Building Economics

For building owners, modernization is no longer just a technology decision. Local regulations can set performance targets, energy prices determine the value of efficiency, and available incentives may help offset project costs. Select a topic to see how these factors differ by market.

Building Performance Standards Are Expanding

Some jurisdictions regulate greenhouse gas emissions; others set energy-use targets or require a combination of measures. The requirements, covered buildings, and deadlines differ. The table below highlights selected jurisdictions where owners may need to plan for progressively stronger performance expectations.

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Selected U.S. building performance standards — September 2026
Jurisdiction	What it covers	Main requirement	Where it’s heading
NYC – Local Law 97Official source	Most buildings >25,000 sf	GHG emissions intensity	Significantly tighter limits in 2030; net-zero trajectory to 2050
Boston – BERDO 2.0Official source	≥20,000 sf or ≥15 residential units	GHG emissions intensity	Standards tighten every five years to zero emissions in 2050
Seattle – BEPSOfficial source	Buildings >20,000 sf	GHG emissions intensity	Targets begin 2031–35 by building size and tighten every five years toward net zero
Maryland – statewide BEPSOfficial source	Most buildings ≥35,000 sf	Direct GHG emissions + energy performance	2030 standards; zero net direct GHG emissions by 2040
Cambridge, MA – BEUDOOfficial source	Nonresidential ≥25,000 sf	Carbon emissions	Buildings ≥100,000 sf begin reductions in 2026 and reach net zero in 2035; smaller covered buildings follow
Evanston, IL – Healthy Buildings OrdinanceOfficial source	Most buildings ≥20,000 sf	Energy, emissions and renewable-energy performance	Progressive performance standards supporting building decarbonization by 2050
Washington, DC – BEPSOfficial source	Cycle 1: private buildings >50,000 sf	ENERGY STAR / EUI performance	Successive performance cycles intended to drive continued reductions
Colorado – statewideOfficial source	Commercial, multifamily and public buildings ≥50,000 sf	Energy-use or GHG performance	Statewide performance program targeting major reductions through 2030 and beyond
Denver – Energize DenverOfficial source	Buildings ≥25,000 sf	EUI targets	Building-specific energy-performance targets; most buildings have an interim deadline in 2028 and a final deadline in 2032
St. Louis – BEPSOfficial source	Buildings ≥50,000 sf	Site EUI	Initial targets took effect in 2025; standards are reviewed and updated every four years
Oregon – statewide BPSOfficial source	Tier 1 commercial buildings ≥35,000 sf	EUI / ASHRAE Standard 100	Compliance phases in from 2028 through 2030 by building size
Washington State – Clean BuildingsOfficial source	Tier 1 commercial buildings >50,000 sf	EUI / Clean Buildings Performance Standard	Compliance is already phasing in from 2026 through 2028

Updated October 2026. Selected U.S. jurisdictions; requirements, coverage, deadlines and exemptions are detailed in the linked official sources.

There is no single nationwide building performance standard. A flexible building automation platform can help owners manage day-to-day operations while preparing for evolving requirements.

Read the full analysis: Building Performance Standards Are Spreading Across the U.S.

The Price of Energy Changes the Payback

High electricity prices strengthen the financial case for building automation in markets such as California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York. In Rhode Island, commercial electricity averaged 23.31¢/kWh in August 2026—approximately 61% above the national average of 14.47¢/kWh. Combined with potential utility incentives for qualifying building automation and energy-efficiency upgrades, this can make modernization particularly attractive. The Rhode Island figure represents the statewide commercial average; individual buildings have their own utility rates and demand charges.

Average Commercial Electricity Price — August 2026

California (LA / other California markets proxy)30.02¢/kWh

Massachusetts (Boston proxy)24.11¢/kWh

District of Columbia23.31¢/kWh

Providence / Rhode Island (statewide commercial average)23.31¢/kWh

New York (NYC proxy)23.06¢/kWh

Illinois (Chicago proxy)14.67¢/kWh

U.S. commercial average (benchmark line/bar)14.47¢/kWh

Colorado (Denver proxy)13.94¢/kWh

Washington (Seattle proxy)11.81¢/kWh

Selected statewide commercial-sector averages and the U.S. benchmark, in ¢/kWh. New York is highlighted; the dashed bar marks the U.S. benchmark.

Source: U.S. EIA, August 2026 commercial electricity averages, released October 23, 2026. Figures are statewide averages; individual utility tariffs, demand charges, gas and steam costs are separate inputs to a building-specific analysis. Data source: U.S. EIA

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Commercial electricity prices — August 2026
Market reference	EIA geographic scope	Average commercial electricity price (¢/kWh), Aug 2026
Los Angeles / California	California statewide	30.02
Boston / Massachusetts	Massachusetts statewide	24.11
Washington, DC	District of Columbia	23.31
Providence / Rhode Island	Rhode Island statewide commercial average	23.31
New York City / New York	New York statewide	23.06
New Jersey / Jersey City–Newark	New Jersey statewide	18.71
Baltimore / Maryland	Maryland statewide	17.00
Chicago / Illinois	Illinois statewide	14.67
United States	U.S. commercial sector	14.47
Denver / Colorado	Colorado statewide	13.94
Philadelphia / Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania statewide	13.93
St. Louis / Missouri	Missouri statewide	12.63
Seattle / Washington	Washington statewide	11.81
Florida	Florida statewide	11.35
Oregon / Portland	Oregon statewide	10.72
Texas	Texas statewide	8.96

Programs That Can Offset Modernization Costs

Utility and energy-efficiency programs may help pay for qualifying controls, HVAC optimization, lighting upgrades, and other building improvements. The relevant program depends on utility territory, customer class, building type, measures, and pre-approval rules. Each program defines its qualifying projects and equipment.

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Selected utility and energy-efficiency programs — October 2026
Market / service territory	Program	Relevant opportunity / verified example	Eligibility requirements
New York City — Con Edison C&I	Commercial & Industrial Energy EfficiencyOfficial program	Custom incentives can include building management system upgrades, controls, chiller optimization, and demand-controlled ventilation.	Con Edison commercial electric accounts averaging over 100 kW; multifamily properties use separate program pathways. Gas and steam programs have distinct rules.
New York City — multifamily	Con Edison Market-Rate Multifamily Building SavingsOfficial program	Incentives for eligible efficiency equipment in market-rate buildings with 5+ residential units; energy management systems are among the categories described by Con Edison.	Eligibility is determined by utility service, building characteristics and the qualifying efficiency measures.
NYC & Westchester — affordable multifamily	Affordable Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program (AMEEP)Official program	Comprehensive and targeted retrofit pathways; BMS and energy management systems appear in Con Edison’s measure list.	Five or more residential units with qualifying affordability documentation.
Greater Boston / eligible Massachusetts utility territories	Mass Save — Building Management Systems & ControlsOfficial program	Prescriptive example for eligible buildings under 300,000 sf: new BMS $0.10 per sequence per sf; upgrades $0.05 per sequence per sf, subject to rules.	Pre-approval required. Incentive amounts are based on the participating utility, system, sequences and building characteristics.
Chicago / ComEd territory	ComEd Energy Efficiency — Business IncentivesOfficial program	ComEd explicitly lists Energy Management Systems, HVAC, controls, retro-commissioning, and custom incentive pathways.	Measure and program eligibility determine the appropriate pathway for existing buildings, new construction and controls upgrades.
Los Angeles / LADWP territory	LADWP — Business Offerings for Sustainable Solutions (BOSS)Official program	Existing program includes eligible controls and HVAC measures; published commercial examples include $0.60 per qualifying kWh saved for HVAC cooling and $0.25 per qualifying kWh saved for whole-building projects.	Eligible nonresidential LADWP account, pre-installation review, approved measure category and documented savings.
Washington, DC	DC Sustainable Energy Utility — Custom IncentivesOfficial program	Custom technical assistance and incentives for cost-effective electrical savings, including lighting/controls and operational improvements.	Project pre-approval and DC customer/location requirements; exact award is project-specific.
Seattle / Seattle City Light territory	Seattle City Light — Commercial & Industrial Retrofit ProgramsOfficial program	City Light lists HVAC major controls upgrade, multifamily retrofit, commissioning, and commercial retrofits.	Utility-service and project eligibility; preapproval before purchase/installation for most incentive projects.
Denver / Xcel Colorado territory	Xcel Energy — Energy Management SystemsOfficial program	Rebate for eligible new or upgraded efficiency controls; utility describes an incentive up to $600 per kW saved, capped at 60% of incremental cost.	Preapproval before purchase, ordering, shipping or installation; awards follow project eligibility and utility service-territory rules.
Baltimore / BGE territory	BGE Smart Energy — Energy Solutions for BusinessOfficial program	Direct and custom incentives for qualifying lighting & controls, HVAC, and broader efficiency upgrades; published cap examples reach up to 50% of eligible retrofit costs.	Eligible BGE commercial rate classes; awarded incentive depends on approved measures and project costs.
Oregon / participating utility territories	Energy Trust of Oregon — 2026 Existing Buildings Incentive UpdatesOfficial program	2026 incentive offerings for qualifying existing commercial buildings; examples include lighting/controls and certain equipment upgrades.	Participating utility and current 2026 measure guide determine eligible improvements and incentive rates.
New Jersey / PSE&G territory	PSE&G — Energy Efficiency ProgramsOfficial program	Business efficiency equipment incentives and custom program for qualifying energy-saving projects.	Specific utility account, technology, application, and project approval requirements.
Providence / Rhode Island	Rhode Island Energy — Business Retrofit & Energy Management SystemsOfficial program	Incentives for qualifying energy management systems, building controls, HVAC optimization, and custom energy-efficiency improvements. Programs may help offset the upfront cost of building modernization.	Eligibility requires utility service in the program territory, qualifying equipment, documented savings and program approval.

Program information reviewed October 2026. Incentives are awarded under each utility's eligibility, pre-approval, measure and funding rules. The linked program administrators publish current terms and application requirements.

Need help deciding which programs could be relevant to your building? We can start by reviewing its location, building type, existing controls, and modernization goals.

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