Jonathan Eckman
CEM, CBO, LEED AP O+M, PMP
Sustainable Investment Group (SIG) | Senior Program Manager - ENERGY STAR & Ordinances
Speaker
Track A: Implementing Energy Efficiency
Session A1: The State of Energy Policy & Funding in the US
June 25, 2025 | 2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Across the Board: How Current and Emerging Building Performance Policies Support ESG, Energy Efficiency, & Decarbonization
Very often, ESG, building performance policy, and energy management are treated as disparate components of the sustainability landscape. This presentation will provide an overview of current and emerging benchmarking and building performance policies across the U.S. and highlight how they intertwine with ESG, energy efficiency, and decarbonization. A key component of the presentation will be exploring building performance standards and illustrating the differences between the laws that focus on emissions versus those that focus on energy consumption. The presentation will also demonstrate how these ordinances connect to larger ESG goals and frameworks, support resource-efficient decarbonization, and rely on cooperation between energy managers, corporate leaders, and other stakeholders. Case studies will include Local Law 97 in NYC, BERDO in Boston, Energize Denver, the Washington State Clean Buildings Performance Standard, and Montgomery County’s Building Emissions Performance Standard. Example scenarios will illustrate how the mandates can be met with energy efficiency and electrification while aligning with and supporting ESG goals. By the end of the session, participants will have a deeper understanding of how building performance policies, ESG principles, and energy management strategies can align to achieve compliance, sustainability, and performance targets.
Speaker Bio
Jonathan has over 10 years of experience across the fields of energy and sustainability, construction, public policy, and organizational development. In his role with SIG, Jonathan supports building owners, managers, and other stakeholders on the full range of local energy and sustainability reporting and performance ordinances—from benchmarking to building performance standards—as well as building optimization, ENERGY STAR certification, emissions reduction, and energy management. Jonathan is a Certified Energy Manager, Certified Building Operator, LEED AP O+M, and Project Management Professional, and holds a Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science & Policy from Columbia University.