Energize Denver Compliance
The Energize Denver Ordinance establishes longāterm energy benchmarking and building performance requirements for commercial and multifamily buildings 25,000 sq. ft. and larger. The policy is designed to reduce Denverās carbon emissions, improve building efficiency, and support longāterm economic and environmental resilience.What Is the Energize Denver Building Performance Policy?
Energize Denver requires large buildings to annually benchmark their energy use and achieve progressively stricter Energy Use Intensity (EUI) performance targets. The City and County of Denverās Office of Climate Action, Sustainability & Resiliency (CASR) administers the policy.
Key elements include:
Annual benchmarking using ENERGY STARĀ® Portfolio Manager.
Buildingāspecific EUI targets set at the 15th percentile of national/local datasets.
Interim target in 2028 and final target in 2032 (with extensions available).
Thirdāparty data verification required once by 2026 and again for the final target year.
Who Must Comply?
Compliance is required for:
Commercial, multifamily, industrial, manufacturing, municipal, and institutional buildings ā„25,000 sq. ft.
Exemptions:
Standāalone parking garages
Buildings classified as ENERGY STAR Energy/Power Station types
Demolitions approved by permit and commenced before reporting deadlines
Note:
MAI (Manufacturing/Agricultural/Industrial) buildings follow a specialized compliance pathway.
Whatās Required?
1. Annual Benchmarking
Building owners must submit wholeābuilding energy data each year, including:
Monthly electricity, gas, district steam/chilled water usage
Weatherānormalized Site EUI
Source EUI and GHG emissions
Building characteristics (GFA, use types, operating patterns)
Submission Deadline: June 1 each year.
2. ThirdāParty Data Verification
Required twice:
Once by the end of 2026 (verifying either 2024 or 2025 data)
Again, for the final target year (2032)
Verification must be completed by a PE, RA, CEM, BEAP, EMP, or other CASRāapproved credentialed professional.
3. Meeting Performance Targets
Buildings must meet:
2028 Interim Target
2032 Final Target
4. Compliance Pathways & Flexibility Options
Buildings may use several alternate pathways:
Standard Target Adjustments
Timeline Extensions (HVAC endāofālife, capacity constraints, major renovations)
Interim Compliance Hold (financial distress, vacancy, lease turnover, disasters)
Custom Targets (after ASHRAE Level 2 audit)
MAI Performance Path (production efficiency metrics)
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Penalties have been cut by 50% for buildings ā„25,000 sq. ft. and no performance penalties are issued until late 2029.
Penalty types include:
Benchmarking penalty: $2,000 for failure to submit annual report.
Performance target penalties: $0.15ā$0.35 per kBtu not achieved (depending on timeline & compliance period).
Maintenance penalties: If building falls out of compliance after meeting target.
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How We Help
Benchmarking & Reporting Services
IE Energy manages the entire benchmarking process in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, ensuring:
Accurate setup of building attributes and use types
Utility data aggregation through Xcel Energy
Complete submission via the Energize Denver Reporting Portal
Thirdāparty verification support (PEāsupervised)
Compliance Strategy & Target Adjustments
We handle all documentation for Standard Target Adjustments and Custom Targets.
Energy Audits (ASHRAE Level 2)
Required for:
Timeline Extensions
Custom Target Applications
Some MAI pathways
We deliver audits that meet Denverās strict ASHRAEā211 requirements, including equipment inventory, EEM analysis, and lifeācycle cost calculations.
Timeline Extensions & Compliance Holds
We prepare full documentation packages for:
HVAC endāofālife scenarios
Energy service capacity constraints
District steam loop limitations
Major renovations
Financial hardship or vacancy situations
Why Choose IE Energy
Deep Expertise in Denverās Ordinance
We stay aligned with CASR requirements, updated 2025 rules, and the full suite of alternate compliance pathways.
Licensed Professional Oversight
All compliance and audit work is overseen by a licensed Professional Engineer ensuring accuracy, documentation integrity, and defensibility.
Data-Driven Insights
We use detailed benchmarking normalization, load analysis, and EUIābased savings modeling to build achievable, costāeffective compliance paths.
CostāConscious Approach
If your building qualifies for extensions, exemptions, or alternative pathways, we guide you toward the lowestācost compliant path.
Transparent, Responsive Communication
We provide clear, ongoing updates, plainālanguage explanations, and no upselling ā only the services needed to get you compliant.
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
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If a building fails to submit a complete and accurate benchmarking report by the annual deadline, the City may issue a $2,000 administrative citation. Before the fine becomes final, building owners receive a 30ā60āday grace period to submit their report or correct any āpending revisions.ā If the report is still not submitted, a citation is issued, and owners have 180 days to pay before the penalty becomes a perpetual lien on the property.
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Performance penalties do not begin until late 2029. Buildings are evaluated on whether they meet their 2028 interim target and 2032 final target. If targets are missed, the City assesses penalties based on the energy not saved, calculated as $0.15ā$0.35 per kBtu not achieved, depending on the buildingās compliance history and whether a timeline extension was used.
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Buildings must maintain their final target indefinitely. If a building exceeds its target by more than 5%, the City may issue a maintenance penalty, while minor deviations (ā¤5%) may be resolved by submitting a Corrective Action Plan within 90 days. If the owner does not address the issue, the building returns to full penalty status.
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Owners may apply for a Timeline Extension, which adjusts deadlines for situations such as:
HVAC equipment nearing end of service life
Energy service capacity constraints from Xcel Energy
Buildings on the district steam loop awaiting systemāwide upgrades
Planned major renovations
Approved extensions shift evaluation dates and replace shortāterm penalties with a longāterm compliance plan.
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Yes. Buildings experiencing shortāterm challenges may apply for an Interim Compliance Hold. This provides a 24āmonth pause on performance requirements while benchmarking continues. Eligible reasons include:
Financial distress
Vacancy over 20%
Loss of a major tenant
Redevelopment or ownership change
During the hold, owners must provide annual updates and may later convert the hold into a full timeline extension if longāterm planning is needed.
Need More Help?
Ready to Get Compliant?
Fill out the form below, and our team will contact you within one business day to help you meet your Energize Denver benchmarking and performance requirementsāaccurately, efficiently, and without the stress.
Prefer to connect directly?
Call us at 909-906-0840
Email us at team@ieenergy.com