Building owners in Colorado are facing new energy performance requirements. Like building performance standards across the country, Energize Denver and Building Performance Colorado (BPC) are designed to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions—but for many owners, understanding what’s required (and when) can feel overwhelming.
The good news: while these regulations are complex, compliance is achievable with the right approach.
Building Performance Colorado generally applies to commercial, multifamily, and public buildings 50,000 square feet and larger, while Energize Denver applies to covered buildings located within the City and County of Denver.
Both programs begin with annual energy benchmarking and reporting through ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager. This data becomes the basis for everything that follows, from verifying compliance and establishing a building’s baseline performance, to identifying opportunities for improvement.
From there, requirements between the two programs begin to differ.
For larger buildings, Energize Denver and BPC introduce performance targets, typically based on metrics like Energy Use Intensity (EUI) or greenhouse gas emissions. Owners must ultimately satisfy the applicable compliance pathway requirements by established deadlines, although interim reporting and alternative compliance options may be available.
Under Energize Denver, buildings smaller than 25,000 SF will complete prescriptive upgrades, such as lighting upgrades, HVAC improvements, or incorporating renewable energy.
In both cases, deadlines are approaching quickly. Benchmarking reports are due annually, while major compliance deadlines vary by program and building type. Under current regulations, many Colorado building owners will be preparing for performance milestones between 2028 and 2032, and beyond. Early planning is essential, because missing these deadlines or failure to meet performance requirements may result in financial penalties and enforcement actions.
Strategy for Colorado Building Owners
A practical compliance strategy usually includes four key steps:
- Understand your baseline. Accurate benchmarking and data verification ensure you know where your building stands today.
- Identify performance gaps. Energy audits and engineering assessments can pinpoint where efficiency improvements will have the greatest impact.
- Develop a roadmap. Whether pursuing efficiency upgrades, operational improvements, or electrification, a clear plan helps align capital investments with compliance deadlines.
- Ensure proper submittals. Each program has its own submission requirements, fees, and deadlines.
Note that if a building located in Denver is compliant with Energize Denver, then it is not required to meet BPC targets, but owners must still submit benchmarking data and pay required fees.
Importantly, these standards are not intended to be one-size-fits-all. Regulators recognize that every building is different, and the programs offer multiple compliance pathways and flexibility options.
For many owners, the challenge isn’t just meeting requirements; it’s managing the process. Coordinating benchmarking, audits, incentive programs, documentation, and ongoing reporting can quickly become a significant administrative burden.
That’s where experienced guidance can make a meaningful difference. Firms with dedicated compliance expertise, like Partner Energy, can help streamline everything from initial building screening and benchmarking to exploring alternate compliance pathways, audit support, upgrade planning, and final submittals—ensuring nothing falls through the cracks while uncovering opportunities to improve performance and reduce costs along the way. And, for owners with properties in other states and jurisdictions, Partner Energy can identify and support compliance with applicable building performance standards in those regions as well.
As Colorado continues to push toward long-term climate goals, building performance standards will only become more central to property operations. Owners who take a proactive, informed approach today will be best positioned to stay compliant, control costs, and enhance the long-term value of their assets.
