With growing efforts to cut carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency, building owners in Colorado are facing new opportunities to enhance their properties via Energize Denver and Colorado Building Performance Standards. Understanding and complying with these energy ordinances is crucial—not just to avoid penalties, but to unlock cost savings and future-proof your properties.
Understanding Energize Denver
Energize Denver is the city’s push for building sustainability, aiming to reduce carbon emissions from commercial and municipal buildings by 80% by 2040. Compliance requirements vary by building size, with structures between 5,000 and 25,000 square feet or larger falling within the ordinance’s scope. Non-compliance can result in penalties, but achieving compliance is more straightforward than many building owners might expect.
What is the Colorado Building Performance Standard?
The Colorado Building Performance Standard (CO Regulation 28) is a statewide initiative targeting a 7% carbon emissions reduction by 2026 and 20% by 2030. This regulation applies to commercial, multifamily and public buildings 50,000 square feet or larger and focuses on three key efforts:
- Tracking and reporting energy usage every year.
- Meeting specific energy performance targets.
- Shifting to electric systems (replacing things like natural gas-powered equipment with electric alternatives).
Why Compliance Matters
Compliance with these regulations can lead to significant long-term savings through energy efficiency improvements and access to potential incentives. Sustainable buildings are also more attractive to tenants and prospective buyers. On the flip side, non-compliance can bring hefty penalties. Fortunately, there are resources and experts available to help navigate these requirements.
How Bowman Can Help Achieve Compliance
Navigating energy regulations can be complex, but Bowman has developed a simplified path to compliance for both Energize Denver and Colorado’s Building Performance Standard. Here’s how we do it:
- Assess your building: We’ll take a close look at your building’s energy systems and usage, then compare them against the requirements of Energize Denver and CO Regulation 28.
- Create a compliance roadmap: Using the results of an ASHRAE Level 1, 2 or 3 audit, we’ll create a personalized roadmap with clear steps to get your building compliant.
- Guide you through execution: We don’t just hand you a plan and walk away. Bowman acts as your owner’s representative, reviewing contractor bids and making sure the plan is carried out properly and meets compliance standards.
Choosing the Right ASHRAE Audit
Choosing the right ASHRAE audit depends on your building’s current energy performance and compliance goals. Are you close to meeting requirements and just need to fine-tune systems? Or do you need a deep analysis to map out larger upgrades over time? There are three levels of ASHRAE audits:
- Level 1 (walk through): Ideal for buildings within 5% of compliance. Level 1 ASHRAE audits find quick, budget friendly improvements you can make immediately.
- Level 2 (standard): Great for buildings that need a deeper analysis to determine the most cost-effective upgrades. We’ll provide a site assessment, energy model and phased improvement recommendations into a detailed report.
- Level 3 (investment grade): Best for larger, more complex buildings with significant energy reduction requirements. If your project’s funding depends on detailed monitoring and cost analysis (or if investors need the highest level of detail), this is the way to go
If you’re ready to align your property with Denver and Colorado’s energy future, we’re here to help every step of the way. You can visit our sustainable buildings page to learn more about our energy code compliance services.
