We present an international profile of activities and research issues related to energy standards for buildings. In the past decade, a few cross-national comparative studies have been published that address energy standards for residential buildings in industrialized countries. More detailed descriptions of a broader range of energy standard activities would be useful to countries seeking to improve or develop standards, particularly for non-residential buildings and in less-developed countries (LDCs). Toward this end, we developed a 15-page informal survey to gather specific information about the contents, development, and use of energy standards, particularly for non-residential buildings. This paper provides a snapshot of the legal status and coverage of energy standards in 57 countries. We have used survey results to characterize specific energy standards in 35 countries in greater detail, as well as to outline building energy-efficiency activities in seven countries without energy standards. Our project submits a possible framework for further inquiry into building energy standards research.