Program · City and County of Denver
Energize Denver
Denver requires commercial and multifamily buildings to cut greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2030 through annual benchmarking and building performance targets. The rules and timelines depend on building size.
- Covers
- Commercial and multifamily buildings 25,000 sq ft and larger, including campuses and industrial buildings
- Benchmarking due
- June 1 each year through the Energize Denver portal
- Performance targets
- 2028 and 2032 for most buildings
- Verification
- Third-party data verification first due June 1, 2026, again in 2033
Quick facts
The Energize Denver ordinance requires covered buildings to benchmark every year and to meet performance targets. The city would rather buildings meet the goals than pay penalties, so there are many compliance pathways and resources. The rules are complicated. Contact us and we will provide a tailored summary for your building type and identify the right pathway.
Deadlines
- Annual benchmarking due June 1
- First third-party data verification due June 1, 2026
- Benchmarking extension requests due September 1
- Performance period 1: 2028 (reported June 1, 2029)
- Performance period 2: 2032 (reported June 1, 2033)
- Second data verification due June 1, 2033
Most buildings are on the 2028 and 2032 schedule because they took the 2025 timeline extension. A building that did not is on the original 2025, 2027, and 2030 schedule.
Covered buildings
- Commercial buildings and campuses 25,000 sq ft and larger
- Multifamily buildings
- Industrial buildings
- Exempt: federal buildings, parking garages, and structures without HVAC systems
Compliance pathways
- Energy Use Intensity (EUI) targets
- Percent reduction performance targets
- Prescriptive targets
- Efficiency targets
- Manufacturing-specific pathways
Alternative compliance options
- Target adjustments
- Renewable energy options
- Timeline extensions
- Compliance holds
- Exemptions
Penalties
- $2,000 for a missed benchmarking deadline, uncorrected errors, or inaccurate data
- $2,000 for a missed data verification deadline
- Up to $0.23 per sq ft per EUI point off target for a missed performance goal (two-period schedule)
- Penalty reinvestment option: redirect most of a penalty into your own efficiency projects
Source: City and County of Denver, Rules and Regulations Governing the High-Performance Existing Buildings Program (August 27, 2026).
Tools
Denver buildings usually answer to the state too
Buildings 50,000 sq ft and up also file with Building Performance Colorado by November 1. Send us the address and we will sort out both.