Following an extensive, multi-year outreach effort working alongside Denver’s building owners, property managers and contractors, the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency (CASR) adopted updated rules to the Energize Denver Building Performance Policy to make reducing energy use manageable, more affordable and better aligned with each building.
The updated rules implement the Building Performance Policy ordinance amendments approved by City Council on May 18, 2026, and finalize the new compliance options shaped and requested by stakeholders over the multi-year refinement of the policy. The updated rules include:
- Timing Changes: Providing clarity and flexibility around compliance deadlines
- Planning Improvements: Clarifying compliance pathways and options for flexibility for buildings with unique circumstances,
- Alternate Compliance Options: Codifying manageable and achievable compliance options requested by the building community
- Enforcement Clarity: Providing transparency and certainty around enforcement options and processes
With the updated rules in place, Denver created options in the Building Performance Policy to help buildings put compliance within reach – from adjusting energy efficiency targets and compliance deadlines to developing customized plans for phased improvements. CASR remains committed to supporting building owners to find a path to compliance that makes sense for their building, including more targeted resources that help them navigate the compliance process, a help desk that will assist with developing an improvement plan and web resources to help find financial support.
For the full, updated rules effective August 27, 2026, visit the Energize Denver Building Performance Policy Rules and Technical Guidance page.
