Why join the Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA)?
To successfully transform local markets and improve building efficiency requires the alignment of policies and markets. The BEA aims to remove barriers to this alignment and support engagement between stakeholders to scale up energy efficiency in new and existing buildings.
What are cities signing up to do?
Cities and subnational governments that join the Accelerator are asked to make three specific commitments to be implemented with assistance from the partnership:
- Implement one enabling policy
- Implement one demonstration project
- Create a baseline of building energy performance, track and report annual progress, and share experiences and best-practices with other governments
BEA cities will be offered tools for gathering input from stakeholders and for prioritizing policies. Through a series of trainings, webinars, regional conferences, and other support, each city will improve their capacity to act and create a deeper engagement with interested parties. In addition, a few cities will work in-depth with the partnership in an intensive multi-stakeholder process.
What kinds of jurisdictions are eligible for the Accelerator?
The BEA engages subnational jurisdictions of all kinds.
National government policies and support are often vital to the success of local action on building efficiency, and the BEA welcomes national engagement with one or more subnational jurisdictions.
What if a city already has energy efficiency activities underway?
The BEA works with cities of diverse geography, size, and depth of existing energy efficiency market. Both cities which aspire to improve their building energy efficiency and cities which can inspire others with innovative or robust energy efficiency work already underway will be vital parts of the network.
What if we are already participating in C40 Cities, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, or another urban or energy-efficiency platform?
The BEA global partnership is designed to complement and support existing city networks. The BEA’s multi-stakeholder approach provides a venue for engagement with technical experts and private sector partners. Increased collaboration can help cities overcome the barriers that have slowed progress on efficiency in the past. Cities can be members of multiple programs and networks. Please share your policy guidance and capacity development needs with ICLEI / C40, asking for guidance.
What is the relationship between the Building Efficiency Accelerator and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction?
SEforALL’s goal is to double the global rate of energy-efficiency improvement. The pursuit of this energy goal will have tremendous climate benefits. The BEA’s work with cities will support the goals contained in countries’ INDCs and the global climate objectives of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction. As a partnership focused on execution at the subnational level, the BEA will share lessons learned, best practices, and progress on climate goals with the Buildings Alliance.
What are the reporting requirements?
While the BEA does not mandate a specific measurement or reporting tool, partner jurisdictions are asked to carry out tracking in a manner of their choice, set a baseline, and report their progress. Cities may use tracking mechanisms already in place locally or access tools such as the Global Protocol for Local Communities (GPC).
Can we receive funding for this work?
While the Accelerator is not a grant-making organization, a primary BEA goal is to offer participants insight into their options for financial and other support and to connect cities with funding opportunities and financing mechanisms. The BEA partnership has technical resources at cities’ disposal in the form of tools, knowledge products, workshops, and trainings, along with the institutional knowledge of the partners.
How will work under the BEA be recognized?
Cities which partner with the BEA will be highlighted at BEA events and in outreach, including in documents distributed at energy-related forums and events.
Who can sign on behalf of a city?
The city mayor (or, if the jurisdiction does not have a mayor, an executive equivalent) must be the signatory to the BEA. However, the city may appoint another representative, such as an environmental minister, as the BEA’s primary point of contact.
