This year, New York City and St. Louis are rolling out landmark building performance standards aimed at reducing emissions from large buildings, a significant contributor to urban carbon output. These innovative laws, part of a broader effort across various U.S. cities and states, require property owners to gradually improve energy efficiency in older structures.

Buildings, accounting for up to three-quarters of a city's carbon emissions, are under scrutiny as cities aim to decarbonize in line with climate targets. New York City's Local Law 97 and St. Louis' pioneering standards will enforce initial compliance deadlines in 2025, marking the first significant push for mandatory energy upgrades in large urban buildings.

These policies, although met with some resistance from property owners, have already shown promising results, with most New York buildings meeting 2024 targets and savings on utility bills from efficiency improvements. As these standards come into full effect, they are set to reshape the urban landscape by fostering sustainable, energy-efficient buildings while providing a model for other cities to follow.