Overview:

Summary: Maximum allowable indoor temperatures for buildings can increase awareness and encourage property managers to adjust cooling standards to avoid excessive cooling, reduce energy loads, and as a result reduce the associated waste heat.

Implementation: Establish maximum allowable indoor temperatures for buildings.

Considerations for Use: This policy could build on or add to existing minimum indoor temperature, energy, or other efficiency standards for interior conditions.

• Policy Levers:
  
  
  MandateMandates are government regulations that require stakeholders to meet standards through building codes, ordinances, zoning policies, or other regulatory tools.
• Trigger Points:
  
  
  Introducing new or updated zoning/codesIncludes codes, zoning requirements or by-laws pertaining to urban planning and building construction activity.
  No-regrets actions (low cost/low effort but substantial benefit)Interventions that are relatively low-cost and low effort (in terms of requisite dependencies) but have substantial environmental and/or social benefits.
• Intervention Type:
  Planning/Policy
• Sectors:
  Buildings

Impact:

• Target Beneficiaries:
  Property owners, Residents
• Phase of Impact:
  Risk reduction and mitigation
• Metrics:
  Energy savings

Case Studies:

• Czech Republic Maximum Summer Indoor Temperature Limits (UDF, Pg 27)
• Cincinnati, OH Thermal Comfort Policies (ULI, Pg 54)
• One NYC Maximum Allowable Indoor Temperature (ULI, Pg 48)

Implementation:

• Intervention Scale:
  City
• Authority and Governance:
  City government
• Implementation Timeline:
  Short-term (1-2 Years)
• Implementation Stakeholders:
  City government
• Funding Sources:
  private investment
• Capacity to Act:
  High, Medium

Benefits:

• Cost-Benefit:
  Low
• Public Good:
  Low
• GHG Reduction:
  N/A
• Co-benefits (Climate/Environmental):
  N/A
• Co-benefits (Social):
  Save on utilities