By Emily Schosid
Denver's goal is to eliminate carbon emissions from buildings by 2040. Buildings and homes account for 64% of Denver’s greenhouse gas emissions. Electrifying buildings and making them more energy efficient both lowers those emissions and improves the environment.
A crucial way the City reaches the zero emissions goal is through the Energize Denver ordinance. City ordinances can be hard to navigate, but knowing what parts of Energize Denver will apply to you and your building is the critical first step for your building and Denver to reach their goals. The requirements change depending on your building’s size, so knowing this will help you know what you need to do to comply. Building size is calculated by the gross square footage of the building, including common areas and individual condominium or apartment units.
Buildings 25,000 sq. ft. and larger
About 3,000 buildings in Denver are 25,000 square feet or larger. One third of those are either condominiums or apartment buildings. These buildings are required to report their annual energy data through a benchmarking report and meet a series of energy efficiency targets between now and 2030. When Denver reviews the benchmarking data each building submits, they look at the building as a whole: the sum of every individual apartment or condominium unit and any common spaces. The building owner, building manager, or HOA have a couple of options for collecting this information, but ultimately, they will have to add together the energy use from each individual unit.
The energy efficiency performance requirements work the same way. The building is required to meet a certain energy use intensity (the amount of energy used per square foot of area) by 2030. There are two interim goals the building must meet on its way to its 2030 goal: one in 2024 and one in 2027. Everyone who lives in a multifamily building must work together to help the building reach its performance target. This work can be organized by a building owner, manager, or HOA.
The City wants to see all buildings reach their performance targets. While there are penalties for buildings that do not make the required progress towards their goals, there are several alternate compliance options available, as well as target adjustments available for taking steps like electrifying a building or utilizing renewable energy sources. The City’s help desk is available to help you figure out the best compliance options for your building. Contact at energizedenver@denvergov.org.
Buildings 5,000 – 24,999 sq. ft.
There are about 6,000 commercial and multifamily buildings in Denver between 5,000 and 24,999 square feet. About a third of buildings in this category are either apartments or condominiums. These buildings are not required to submit annual benchmarking data or meet a specific energy use intensity. Instead, these buildings will be required to either upgrade at least 90% of their lighting load (measured in kilowatt-hours) to LEDs or source at least 20% of their building energy demand from renewable sources. The deadline to complete these upgrades occur between 2025 and 2027.
The City is still finalizing the rules, alternate compliance options, and technical guidance for these buildings. The City recognizes that condominiums will face unique challenges in trying to meet these requirements, and will provide updates on how you can work with the City to achieve your Energize Denver requirements. In the meantime, you can the City at energizesmallbuildings@denvergov.org.
Energize Denver Electrification Program
The final part of Energize Denver is the Electrification Program. This part of the ordinance uses the Denver Commercial Building Code to require buildings to replace gas-fired space and water heating and cooling equipment with electric alternatives at the end of the equipment’s life. These requirements apply to all commercial and multifamily buildings in Denver, regardless of their size.
Replacing heating and cooling equipment is expensive, and building managers may delay until it becomes an emergency. There are exceptions to the electrification requirements if you find yourself in an emergency, but the best course of action is for building owners, managers, and HOAs to plan ahead, rather than wait for their equipment to fail. Later this year, Denver will have financial incentives to make it easier to switch to energy efficient electrified equipment. Ultimately, Denver will be a very different city when its buildings meet their Energize Denver requirements. Making your building greener will make your tenants and residents more comfortable, help improve Denver’s air quality, and increase Denverites’ quality of life.
