ENERGIZE DENVER

Denver, Colorado’s building performance policy, Energize Denver, establishes energy performance requirements, benchmarking, and prescriptive measures for commercial, multifamily, and industrial buildings. Its goals are to improve efficiency, lower operating costs, and drive long-term sustainability. Energize Denver is administered by Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resilience (CASR).

Buildings in compliance with Energize Denver will be deemed compliant with the State of Colorado’s building performance policy, known as Building Performance Colorado.

Partner Energy provides full-service consulting to help property owners develop a compliance plan and meet all requirements of Energize Denver while maximizing incentives and avoiding penalties.

Which Buildings Are Covered under Energize Denver?

Energize Denver applies to commercial, multifamily, and industrial buildings. Policy requirements are broken into two categories according to building size.

Buildings that are 25,000 sq. ft. or larger must:

• Submit annual energy benchmarking reports using the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager tool.
• Meet site energy performance targets based on building type and energy use intensity (EUI), with interim and final targets set by the city.

Buildings with gross floor area between 5,000 and 24,999 sq. ft. are not subject to full performance targets. Owners of these buildings have two compliance options:

• Lighting Improvement — certify that ≥ 90 % of the building’s total lighting load is provided by LED lighting, or that lighting meets the 2019 Denver Building and Fire Code for lighting power density.

• Renewable Energy Use — demonstrate that at least 20 % of the building’s annual energy use comes from on-site or off-site renewable energy sources.

Energize Denver Compliance Deadlines

Benchmarking & Reporting

• Buildings 25,000 sq. ft. and larger must benchmark energy use annually through ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager.

• For benchmarking years 2025 and beyond, Denver requires third-party verification of reported data to ensure accuracy and consistency.

Performance Targets (Large Buildings)

• Each large building is assigned interim performance targets and a final target based on its type, usage, and baseline energy use.

• Final performance compliance deadlines were extended under updated rules, with many buildings now tracking performance into 2032.

Prescriptive Requirements (Smaller Buildings)

• Buildings between 5,000–24,999 sq. ft. must complete either lighting improvements or renewable energy compliance actions by deadlines that vary based on building size:

  • 15,001–24,999 sq. ft.: by Dec 31, 2025

  • 10,001–15,000 sq. ft.: by Dec 31, 2026

  • 5,000–10,000 sq. ft.: by Dec 31, 2027

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Small building penalties vary by noncompliance. Owners of large buildings who fail to comply may be penalized up to $0.35/kBtu for target shortfall and up to $10/sf for benchmarking failures.

Turnkey Support for Energize Denver

Partner Energy’s team provides turnkey compliance support for the Energize Denver, including:

• Building Screening: Identify which buildings are covered and confirm exemptions

• Energy Benchmarking: Collect utility data and benchmark in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager

• O&M and EMP Development: Prepare programs that meet CASR’s requirements

• Energy Audits & Upgrade Planning: Assess performance gaps and recommend cost-effective improvements

• Incentive Coordination: Maximize rebates and incentives to offset costs

• Compliance Submittals: Prepare and file documentation to CASR.

• Ongoing Monitoring: Manage recertification and reporting cycles

Partner Energy helps you meet compliance deadlines, avoid penalties, and enhance building performance—with minimal disruption to your operations. Contact us to determine if your buildings are covered under Energize Denver and develop a customized compliance roadmap.