As of October 7, 2024, Equity Priority Buildings 25,000 sq. ft. and larger now have access to more support to help meet their Energize Denver Building Performance Standards than ever before. These services are designed to provide comprehensive support that will help Equity Priority Building owners:
- Achieve their energy efficiency goals
- Create more comfortable and reliable spaces for communities
- Boost their bottom line
- Meet Energize Denver's compliance requirements
- Build a more equitable and sustainable city for all
Fill Out Your Application
All confirmed Equity Priority Buildings (EPBs) will receive tailored compliance assistance to address their unique needs. This process starts with a comprehensive energy assessment and offers step-by-step guidance through compliance. This includes:
- Assistance filling out Benchmarking forms
- Onsite energy audits to understand energy efficiency opportunities
- Assistance with implementing recommendations from the energy audit
- Engaging with tenants to inform them of building updates
- Help with securing rebates, tax incentives, and financing
Compliance assistance services include:
- Benchmarking Assistance
- Assistance in uploading and verifying energy data in ESPM
- Assistance in submitting the annual benchmarking report
- Assistance in identifying and submitting Target Adjustments
- Onsite ASHRAE Level 2 Audit:
- Comprehensive Feasibility Analysis: Conduct a detailed evaluation of energy-saving opportunities and develop a compliance plan tailored to your building's needs.
- Project Implementation Support: Get help in executing the recommended projects from your audit.
- Electrification Feasibility Reports (EFRs): Receive in-depth reports on the feasibility of electrification within your building.
- Navigation Services:
- Audit Results Interpretation: Understand the actionable insights from your energy audit.
- Tenant Engagement: Assistance in engaging tenants with energy efficiency improvements, including data sharing and equipment upgrades.
- Financial Coaching: Get support in identifying and applying for financial resources, including rebates and incentives.
- Renewables Coaching: Receive guidance on applying for and managing resources for renewable energy projects.
- Guidance for Contractors: Help in selecting contractors, requesting, and understanding bids.
- Rebate Program: We are still finalizing the rebate design. Once we have finalized the program, we will post them here and announce them in our newsletter.
- Health and Safety Improvements: Incentives for improvements that enhance your building’s health and safety, laying the groundwork for energy efficiency and electrification upgrades.
- Energy Efficiency Rebates: Rebates for implementing energy-saving measures.
Between April and November 2022, we held a series of community meetings, virtual listening sessions and one-on-one conversations. We talked to building owners, managers, tenants, community leaders, and critical external stakeholders in the Equity Priority Building community. Our goal was to build trust with the community, gather insights and feedback directly from the people who will use our additional services, and identify critical resources that the community is missing. Together with the groups we met with, we were able to hear directly from the community and co-create a plan for services and incentives that will help Equity Priority Buildings meet their Performance Requirements.
Previous Meetings: Community Connections Insights
Building Tenants and Community Leaders Meetings
Property Owners and Managers Meetings
The Equity Priority Buildings Equity Index
To better identify potential Equity Priority Buildings, CASR developed the Equity Index—a robust tool that ranks each census tract in Denver based on key environmental and socioeconomic indicators. This index, created in collaboration with stakeholders, community members, and Denver's Office of Social Equity and Innovation, has proven invaluable in prioritizing areas of greatest need, targeting outreach efforts, and guiding the development and implementation of equitable policies. By focusing on these indicators, the Equity Index helps ensure that resources are directed where they are most needed, fostering a more just and resilient Denver.