BOMA BEST criteria for multifamily buildings will be updated beginning in January 2022. Landlords and condominium corporations participating in the environmental performance benchmarking and certification program will have to comply with an expanded list of best practices, which are consistent with existing prerequisites for office buildings and enclosed shopping centres. Additionally, attainable point tallies have been adjusted and new point-gaining measures have been added to reflect pandemic-related operational considerations and building performance advancements.

Among the new best practice expectations, building management must prepare and adopt an overarching environmental policy to guide their efforts. To secure BOMA BEST certification, buildings must have a stated energy reduction target and a plan to reduce water consumption. Waste audits must be conducted on a three-year cycle, which will inform the compulsory waste management plan and the edict for separate bins for landfill waste and divertible materials. Buildings must also have indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring plans and green cleaning programs.

In response to COVID-19-related experiences, the BOMA BEST points systems will place more emphasis on ventilation systems, controls and monitoring. There are also new point allocations for air sanitation, air quality monitoring, MERV 13 filters and relative humidity considerations. As well, owners/managers are encouraged to analyze the difference in energy and water consumption for the 12-month period prior to the pandemic’s onset in March 2020 versus the pandemic period.

BOMA BEST administrators foresee slight downward pressure on scores once the new questionnaire goes into effect on January 18, 2022.

“Buildings currently earning BOMA BEST Silver may see a reduction of 2 to 3 per cent in the total score. Gold and Platinum level certifications may see a reduction of 1 per cent,” they project. “While this may impact scores, few will experience a change in certification level.”