Denver earned a spot among the top ten cities with the most ENERGY STAR buildings, a certification program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The ranking confirms Denver’s commitment to providing building owners and managers with the technical guidance, best practices, and training needed to make their buildings more energy efficient, save money, and reduce carbon emissions.
Energy Star Program
“Energy efficiency in buildings lowers costs, improves health and builds resiliency in the face of a changing climate,” said Grace Rink, Denver’s chief climate officer. “ENERGY STAR benefits building owners and the people who use them, and advance Denver’s climate goals.”
Denver has taken a step further with existing commercial and multifamily buildings, which account for 49% of Denver’s greenhouse gas emissions, through the Energize Denver ordinance was passed in November 2021. The ordinance requires buildings 25,000 square feet and larger to report their energy performance annually and to drastically reduce their energy use. This will make a substantial dent in Denver’s buildings emissions, reducing them by roughly 80% by 2040.
Energize Denver will provide over $1 billion in benefits to the city and its residents through avoided costs of carbon, with incentives available for early adoption and for buildings in under-resourced communities.
To qualify for the ENERGY STAR, a building must earn an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher on a scale from 1 to 100, indicating that it outperforms 75 percent of similar buildings nationwide.
Commercial building owners must apply for the ENERGY STAR certification and have their performance verified by a professional engineer or a registered architect. ENERGY STAR certified buildings use an average of 35 percent less energy and are responsible for 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than typical buildings. Many types of commercial facilities can earn the ENERGY STAR, including office buildings, schools, hospitals, and retail stores.
For more information about the ENERGY STAR Top Cities list, visit their website at www.energystar.gov/TopCities.