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Energize Denver is a program initiated by the City and County of Denver to address climate change by reducing energy consumption in commercial and multifamily buildings. Here are some key points about Energize Denver:

Purpose and Goals:

Energize Denver aims to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2040.
It focuses on both new and existing buildings.
The program includes regulations, incentives, and performance requirements.

Reporting and Improvement:

Covered buildings are required to report their energy performance.
The program encourages buildings to improve their energy efficiency.

Interactive Map and Metrics:

You can explore covered buildings, metrics, and compliance status on the Energize Denver website.
Metrics include site energy use intensity, ENERGY STAR® score, and more.

Compliance and Enforcement:

Denver enforces the ordinance with significant fines to ensure compliance.

Positive Impact:

Energize Denver not only leads to lower energy bills but also contributes to public health outcomes.

Energize Denver will provide over $1 billion in benefits to the City through avoided social cost of carbon. As the buildings improve their energy use and lower the cost of operations, Denver will become a more competitive, attractive city for businesses and residents.

Building Categories

Buildings 25,000 sq. ft. or Larger

Buildings 25,000 sq. ft. or larger must submit annual benchmarking data. They must also meet specific energy efficiency requirements. Learn about the requirements and how you can make sure you get into and stay in compliance.

The Energize Denver and Green Building Ordinances require buildings 25,000 sq. ft. and larger to:

Submit annual benchmarking of the building’s energy use
Meet energy performance requirements based on the building’s Energy Use Intensity (EUI)
Electrify when replacing space and water heating equipment
Install a cool roof or meet other compliance options when replacing a roof

What is Energy Use Intensity (EUI)?

When you benchmark your building in Portfolio Manager, one of the key metrics you’ll see is energy use intensity, or EUI. Essentially, EUI expresses a building’s energy use as a function of its size or other characteristics.

Buildings 5,000-24,999 sq. ft.

Buildings between 5,000 and 24,999 sq. ft. are required to meet lighting or renewable energy requirements. Learn more about the requirements and find out how you can succeed in making updates to your building.

Buildings 5,000 to 24,999 sq. ft., do not have to send annual Benchmarking Reports or meet an energy use intensity performance requirement. Instead, these buildings have two options* to comply with Energize Denver:

Improve Lighting: Certify that a minimum of 90% of the building’s total lighting load is provided by LED lights, or that all lighting meets 2019 Denver Building and Fire Code for lighting power density

Improve Energy Source: Utilize on- or off-site renewable power generation to meet a minimum of 20% of the building’s annual site energy usage

*Building owners do not have to do both options, only one is required for compliance.

https://denvergov.org/ClimateEnergize-Denver-Hub/Buildings-5000-24999-sq-ft

Buildings Under 5,000 sq. ft.

Existing buildings under 5,000 sq. ft. are not subject to any Performance Requirements. However, they are still subject to the requirements to partially electrify their buildings when replacing gas-fired heating and cooling equipment at the end of system life.

LED LIGHTING

BUSINESS LED INSTANT REBATE

Upgrading your lighting to energy-saving LEDs can help you save energy and money in your business. For a limited time, you can earn higher rebate dollars on select LED tubes and fixtures. Take advantage of these bonus rebates now to start saving. Additional 50% rebate bonus on LED tubes.

23-09-402_BusinessLightingBonusRebates_IS_P02.pdf (xcelenergy.com)

Additional benefits:

Improved return on investment for building owners
Improved building stock in City of Denver
Higher property values
Reduced energy bills and cost of operations
Improved indoor and outdoor air quality

Charge: Implement a building performance policy that includes energy efficiency improvements and strategic electrification of all existing buildings and homes, so they achieve net zero energy by 2040. The program should improve health and equity outcomes, create jobs, and drive climate solutions in buildings.

Applies to all buildings 25,000 sq. ft. and larger

Uses Site Energy Use Intensity, or EUI, as a measure of your building’s total energy usage (kBtu divided by square footage)
Targets set at 85/15th percentile for all covered buildings in Denver
Mixed-use buildings will have a blended target based on % of 3 largest building types

Incentives and Financing

Xcel Energy: Cost savings programs, lighting and equipment rebates, new building programs, electric vehicle options, renewable energy, strategic energy mgmt. cohort, access to the National Energy Improvement Fund
CASR Steam Program can help contribute to the refinancing capital stack and to help pay for upgrades in buildings on steam.
Financing programs for energy improvement projects: C-PACE financing, Colorado Clean Energy Fund and the Green Bank of Colorado.

ENERGY STAR Certification for Buildings

Did you know that your building can earn ENERGY STAR certification, just like a refrigerator?

Certified Buildings Save

ENERGY STAR certified buildings save energy, save money, and help protect the environment by generating fewer greenhouse gas emissions than typical buildings. To be certified as ENERGY STAR, a building must meet strict energy performance standards set by EPA.

Specifically, to be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification, a building must earn an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher on EPA’s 1 – 100 scale, indicating that it performs better than at least 75 percent of similar buildings nationwide. This 1 – 100 ENERGY STAR score is based on the actual, measured energy use of a building and is calculated within EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. The score accounts for differences in operating conditions, regional weather data, and other important considerations. Learn more about how the 1 – 100 ENERGY STAR score is calculated.

Certification Is Annual and Verified by a Third-Party

Certification is given on an annual basis, so a building must maintain its high performance to be certified year to year. And the information submitted in the certification application must be verified by a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) to be eligible for approval.

Ready to apply?

Do you own or manage an industrial plant? Learn more about ENERGY STAR certification for plants