Commercial Energy Code Compliance Pathways

Overview

The Denver Commercial Energy Code has two compliance pathways that project teams can take. This allows teams to assess the process that will work best for achieving their goals while ensuring the buildings continue to support Denver's climate goals.

The video below gives an overview of the compliance pathways for both the 2022 and 2025 Commercial Energy Code provisions; see also the 2025 Denver Energy Code Key Amendments. You can download and review the slides(PDF, 621KB).

The Prescriptive Pathway

Prescriptive compliance requires that each element of the building meets a minimum standard. Teams can choose efficiency options from a standard menu.

What’s required:

Projects follow sections C402 through C406 plus C408
Use the Commercial Denver Energy Code Prescriptive Checklist(XLSX, 2MB) to document requirements.
Use COMCheck Web
- Follow guidance in the policy(PDF, 220KB) to
  - Use the 2022 Denver Energy Code as the local code or 2025 Denver Energy Code when available through the "New COMcheck web"
  - Use the 2021 IECC with supplemental documentation
Limited mandatory provisions of the 2022 Denver Green Code
Projects 25,000 sq. ft. and larger must follow the Green Buildings Ordinance

Watch the Training

*Please note: during the live webinar, a question was asked about existing buildings, but we felt the answer given live was not satisfactory. We have removed this portion of the webinar recording, and have given a fuller, clearer answer in the document above.

The Performance Pathway

Performance compliance utilizes whole-building energy modeling of energy usage and costs. This method encourages a holistic design process. It allows for more flexibility with prescriptive elements of the code. Projects may choose to comply via:

Energy cost savings
Energy savings
Designing to a fixed performance target.

Section C407 – Compliance by Energy Cost

This option follows the modeling protocol of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019. Teams compare the energy cost of their design to a baseline with Building Performance Factors. From there, they can target reductions of the energy cost of the regulated loads.

Appendix PT – Compliance by Performance Target

This option demonstrates compliance by modeling to a specified EUI. Only certain building types can use this compliance option.

Appendix SE – Compliance by Site Energy

This option follows the modeling protocol of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019. Teams compare the predicted energy use of their design to the baseline with Building Performance Factors. From there, they can target reductions of the site energy use of the regulated loads.

What’s required:

Projects follow Section C407, Appendix PT, or Appendix SE
Energy modeling performed by an ASHRAE Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP)
- Other approved equivalent certifications are permitted
Use the Commercial Denver Energy Code Performance Checklist(XLSX, 927KB) to document requirements
Submit the Energy Modeling Report Template(XLSM, 4MB)
Limited mandatory provisions of the 2022 Denver Green Code
Projects 25,000 sq. ft. and larger must follow Denver’s Green Buildings Ordinance