In Denver, a renewed commitment to reducing energy use in large buildings has been set in motion, with Mayor Mike Johnston and the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency (CASR) unveiling improvements to the Energy Denver initiative. According to the Mayor, as per City and County of Denver, after engaging with over 2,000 stakeholders, the city has decided to give businesses more breathing room by extending compliance deadlines and reducing penalties in response to feedback received.
The newly revised Energize Denver targets, initially approved by Denver City Council in November 2021, are now adjusted to make the energy reduction goals more attainable. Interim compliance deadlines have been extended from 2025 to 2028, with the final compliance deadlines now set for 2032, offering extra time for building owners to plan for the necessary improvements. Moreover, to emphasize cooperation over coercion, the city has slashed penalties by half and will refrain from assessing any until 2029. Elizabeth Babcock, Executive Director of CASR, underlined the city's approach by saying, "Our goal is to work alongside Denver’s building owners, property managers, and service providers to make reducing energy use practical, more affordable, and better aligned with each unique building," as obtained by the City and County of Denver.
Aside from eased timelines and lowered financial risks, Denver is amping up support for energy efficiency through new rebates, affordable energy audits, and augmented training opportunities. An Energize Denver Help Desk has also been put in place to assist in navigating these new financial incentive options. For buildings to successfully implement improvements, additional tools and transparent compliance guidance have been promised as well. These amendments follow the city's understanding that buildings are pivotal in the strategy to reduce carbon emissions in Denver, with 28% of large buildings already hitting their energy reduction targets.
Stakeholder support for these policy enhancements is robust. Katie Kruger, CEO of the Denver Metro Commercial Association of Realtors, lauded the city's ongoing collaboration, saying, "In this challenging market, it’s critical that we work together to find solutions that keep Denver competitive today and in the future," as noted by the City and County of Denver. And from a healthcare perspective, Tim Keenan, Facilities Director of Intermountain Health Peaks Region, endorsed the tailored compliance path forged at their Midtown location, which will enable them to "deliver on our mission to help people live the healthiest lives possible." Additionally, Alana Miller, Colorado Climate Policy Director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, commended Denver's leadership role, stating, "Denver is leading the charge on climate action by cutting carbon pollution and driving energy efficiency through bold building performance policies."
The final public comment period on the proposed rules and regulations is currently open, leading up to a virtual hearing scheduled for April 1. Denver's building owners, property managers, and service providers seeking further details or wishing to contribute feedback, are directed to visit the Energize Denver Hub. A virtual briefing on the updates is also scheduled for March 14, at noon MT, where interested individuals can gain further insights into the revised program.
