How can the Energy Code Help Meet Denver’s Goals?

Denver has a goal for all new buildings and homes to achieve Zero Emissions by 2030 and all buildings by 2040. One of the best ways to meet that goal is through an energy code that supports buildings to be:

  • Highly efficient
  • All-electric
  • Grid resilient and responsive to the grid
  • Powered by systemwide renewable energy

The Denver Energy Code (DEC) will be updated over time as the market and the electric utility become ready to fully adopt these features.

Learn About Denver's Energy Code

How Do We Achieve These Building Qualities?

Highly efficient

  • Strengthen building codes: Implement energy performance efficiency through updates to the Denver Energy Code (DEC).  

All-electric

  • Promote all-electric systems: Denver will continue to promote All-Electric Properties for commercial, multifamily and residential buildings. Denver will maintain the current limited requirements in the Denver Energy Code for electric space and water heating equipment in new commercial and multifamily buildings. Additionally, Denver will explore expanding the electric-required provisions to other space and water heating applications. 

Grid resilient and responsive to the electric utility grid

  • Advocate for grid resiliency: Support electric utility initiatives and building systems and controls that provide grid resiliency. This includes energy storage, grid integration, and flexibility to respond to grid signals.  
  • Further define load management and demand response in the code: Define an appropriate percentage of electric equipment to be load flexible. The 2025 and 2022 Denver Energy Code requires demand responsive storage water heaters and gives additional efficiency credits for demand responsive thermostats. We will continue to require additional demand-responsive controls for equipment in code as the technology becomes market-ready.
  • Limit electric peak demand: Focus on strategies to limit electric peak demand for heating and cooling at Denver’s hottest and coldest conditions through energy efficiency and load reduction.  

Powered by Systemwide Renewables 

  • Advocate at grid scale: Xcel Energy provides all the electricity that Denver purchases. Xcel Energy is on track to reduce carbon emissions from its electrical grid by 85% by 2030 by producing electricity with renewables, such as solar and wind. Through Senate Bill 19-236, the Colorado Legislature has required electric utilities to decarbonize the electric grid by 80% by 2030. Xcel Energy has voluntarily exceeded that target and filed a plan that achieves at least an 85% emissions reduction by 2030.  
  • Continue Working at the Building Level: At the building level, the energy code can support buildings that meet the first three pillars above and ensure that code allows for the utilization of renewable energy while Xcel Energy works to decarbonize the grid.  

 

Why Does Denver Have a Zero Emissions Goal for Buildings and Homes?

As of 2024, buildings and homes were responsible for 66% of Denver’s greenhouse gas emissions, which makes this a significant sector.

A building or home that is Zero Emissions:   

  • Does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions once the electric utility is generated by renewable energy
  • Is more comfortable
  • Has better health outcomes for occupants
  • Increases quality of life for occupants and the neighborhood

 

What is Electric Utility's Role?

Xcel Energy, the electric utility for Denver, is on track to reduce carbon emissions from their electricity by at least 80% by 2030. They will achieve this by producing electricity with renewable energy, such as solar and wind. Because Zero Emissions buildings and homes are all-electric, these buildings only use electricity to heat, cool, and operate. This lets them take advantage of the work Xcel Energy is doing to reduce emissions for electricity. This is not the case if the building still uses natural gas or other fossil fuels. 

Senate Bill 19-236, passed by the Colorado Legislature in 2019, requires electric utilities to reduce emissions for the electric grid by 80% by 2030. Xcel Energy has voluntarily exceeded that target and filed a plan that achieves at least an 85% emissions reduction by 2030.

The chart below shows Xcel Energy’s electrical grid moving towards lower carbon emissions by 2030. This is known as "decarbonizing the grid." The closer the line gets to 100% carbon emission reduction, the less greenhouse gas emissions Colorado’s grid produces.

A graph that shows Xcel Energy's path to 85% emissions reduction by 2030

 

A Path to Zero Emissions for Commercial Buildings

The Denver Building Code and Denver Green Code are some of the best tools to drive buildings to reduce emissions.  

This line graph shows the projected decrease in Denver's carbon emissions with the implementation of each building code cycle.  

The graph above represents the trajectory of lowering carbon emissions in new commercial buildings through 2030. To reach our zero emissions goal for new construction by 2030, Denver needs to stick to the downward trending dotted blue line. The blue and green dots indicate how the Denver Energy Code and Denver Green Code will help to keep us on track to reach our goals.

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