Energize Denver Policy Timeline

The Energize Denver Ordinance is key to achieving an equitable path to healthier, safer, net zero carbon buildings in Denver. Throughout the development and refinement of the policy over the past decade, Denver has valued its stakeholders’ and community’s input. The timeline below outlines the development of the policy and extensive community engagement along the way.

May 2016: Task Force Recommendations (V1)

The original Energize Denver Task Force met in 2015-2016 to develop the first consensus recommendations(PDF, 1MB) for an annual benchmarking requirement through a robust public input process. The consensus recommendations also included a building performance standard, but it was not adopted by city council at that time.

December 2016: Energize Denver Ordinance (V1) passed

Task Force members testified in favor of the recommendations in the Energize Denver Ordinance 16-1231, which was passed by city council later that month.

March 2017: Benchmarking Rules and Regulations (V1)

Denver Department of Public Health and Environment’s Climate Team adopted its first rules and regulations for annual benchmarking.

2019-2020: Climate Action Task Force

Denver ran a Climate Action Task Force with a robust public engagement process to develop recommendations to improve the city’s efforts on climate change. The task force included a recommendation to develop a building performance standard.

Jan – Sept 2021: Energize Denver Task Force Recommendations (V2)

The Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency (CASR) ran a second Energize Denver Task Force made up of community members and building industry representatives to develop consensus recommendations (video)for existing buildings to reduce their energy use, mitigating their climate impact. The task force had extensive public input into their process, and once their recommendations were complete in August 2021, a public briefing was held in September, 2021.

November 2021: Energize Denver Ordinance (V2) passed

Diverse Task Force Members and public present and testify in favor of Energize Denver Ordinance 21-1310, which was passed by city council unanimously on November 22, 2021. Testimony in support included: 

  • 29:15 – Katrina Managan, CASR Director of Buildings & Homes (Task Force (TF) administrator)
  • 33:42 – Christine Brinker, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (TF member)
  • 38:38 – Aaron Martinez, Urban Land Conservancy (TF member)
  • 43:20 – Celeste Cizik, Group14 Engineering (TF member)
  • 45:30 – Katrina Managan, CASR (TF administrator)
  • 47:30 – Lori Pace, Denver Metro Association of Realtors (TF member)
  • 49:10 – Stephen Shepard, Denver Metro Building Owners and Manager Association (TF member)
  • 51:40 – Jenny Wilford, Colorado Sierra Club (TF member)
  • 53:54 – Kathie Barstnar, NAIOP Colorado (TF member)
  • 55:40 – Frank Arellano, LBA Realty (TF member)
  • 58:02 – Jonathan Cappelli, Neighborhood Development Collaborative (TF member)
  • 1:00:43 – Ariana Gonzalez, National Resources Defense Council (TF member)
  • 1:02:40 – Jeff Newman Lee, Together Colorado & Resilient Denver (public) 

January 2022: Rules and Regulations (V2) adopted

CASR ran an informal public briefing in December, 2021, followed by a formal public hearing (zoom passcode: Xy9*K0yT) in January, 2022 to adopt the rules and regulations for the Energize Denver building performance policy.

April – August 2022: Community Engagement on Technical Guidance

The building performance team performed extensive stakeholder engagement on the first set of rules to further develop technical guidance and refine the rules for more equitable implementation.

Summary of updates: 

  • Standardized target adjustments and process
  • Added to the list of reasons why a building could request a timeline adjustment and developed application requirements
  • Replaced prescriptive partial electrification alternate compliance option with electrification credit
  • Created an alternate compliance option for buildings who have a 30% energy use reduction target
  • Shifted several building types to manufacturing, agricultural, and industrial definition
  • Added short-term renewable credit options to help with interim targets
  • Added a process for appealing enforcement notices 

March – October 2022: Community engagement on Equity Priority Buildings

The team performed extensive stakeholder and community engagement to develop an Equity Priority Building compliance assistance program for buildings 25,000 sq. ft. and larger.

Summary of what stakeholders told us they would need: 

  • Assistance with benchmarking to make sure the building’s target is correct
  • Assistance with developing a retrofit plan, including lifecycle cost analysis
  • Assistance in navigating the process of applying for incentives and resources
  • Assistance in applying for financial funding
  • Help with upfront cost 

November 2022: Rules and Regulations (V3) adopted

After multiple rounds of public comment on the technical guidance document and latest version of the rules, CASR held a public hearing to adopt the 3rd version of the Energize Denver Rules and Regulations.

September 2022-March 2023: Community engagement on MAI buildings

The team performed extensive stakeholder engagement to create an alternate compliance option and targets for manufacturing, agricultural, and industrial (MAI) buildings 25,000 sq. ft. and larger.

Summary of the compliance option:  

  • Target is a 30% reduction in a chosen metric
  • Multiple metrics available: EUI reduction, production efficiency metric proposed, or EPA EPI score 
  • Two pathways created: prescriptive or performance
  • Fossil fuel reduction credit created 

October 2022- March 2023: Community engagement on buildings 5,000-24,999 sq. ft.

The team performed extensive stakeholder engagement to develop technical guidance and refine the rules for the prescriptive requirements for buildings 5,000-24,999 sq. ft. (see summary at the bottom of this page).

Summary of updates: 

  • Added two alternate compliance options: one for residential condominiums and one for getting credit for other energy efficiency work
  • Added additional resources and compliance guide to website in multiple languages
  • Added a timeline adjustment option if buildings owners can’t comply by the deadline 

June 2023: Rules and Regulations (V4) adopted

After multiple rounds of public comment on the technical guidance documents and latest version of the rules, CASR held a public hearing to adopt the 4th version of the Energize Denver Rules and Regulations. Summary of updates: 

November 2022 – August 2023: Aligning with State requirements

The team participated as a party to the rulemaking process at the Air Quality Control Commission for Regulation 28 to better align the state building performance requirements with Energize Denver.

April 2024: Community engagement on state program alignment

The team performed stakeholder engagement to discussing adding alternate compliance options to Energize Denver to make it easier for buildings 50,000 sq. ft. and larger to comply with both the state and Denver requirements.