Getting across the BEPS finish line

Background

The deadline for the first cycle of the District’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) is approaching on December 31, 2026.

Now is the time to make sure your buildings are on track.

Read below to learn what you need to do to successfully get across the finish line.

You can also watch the video recording of our companion webinar.

Step 1: Check

Portfolio Manager contact information

Make sure contact information for your property in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is up to date and includes an email address associated with the building owner. DOEE has instructions on how to update your contact information.

DOEE sends all building-specific information to the Property Data Administrator and Property Contact Name email addresses reported through your Portfolio Manager account.

This includes questions, comments, and notices related to compliance, including enforcement. Missing important emails could mean that a building fails to comply which could result in enforcement and financial penalties (called alternative compliance payments).

Here’s how to stay connected

• Update contact information
  • Update your contact information in Portfolio Manager, using DOEE’s step-by-step instructions.
• List building owner as the property contact
  • In many cases property managers or benchmarking providers are listed as the account contact, however it is critical that the building owner is listed as a contact and granted full access to the account to avoid missing important correspondence related to BEPS compliance.
• Use general, monitored email address
  • We recommend using a general, monitored email address associated with the building owner or property so that if the primary contact leaves, the account is still accessible.

BEAM Building Owners Portal

If you haven’t already set up an account in the Building Owners Portal on BEAM, make sure to set one up as soon as possible. Having an account will help you understand and track your status with the District’s Benchmarking and BEPS Programs. This web-based application platform enables building owners to view the compliance status of any submitted reports, previous compliance data, and correspondence with DOEE. Your Portfolio Manager contact information will need to be up to date to ensure you are able to set up an account.

Data and performance

A great next step is to check your data. Use the latest available benchmarking data in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to see where you stand with respect to the target on your selected pathway. You can also check your status in the Building Owners Portal. While evaluation will be based on a full year of 2026 data which is not yet complete, looking at the most recent year will give you a good approximation of where you’ll end up.

Here’s what to look out for:

• Make sure your benchmarking data is accurate, complete, and ready for third-party verification.
• For buildings on the Standard Target Pathway, check your ENERGY STAR score. How close are you to the standard for your property type? For buildings ineligible for an ENERGY STAR score, check your Source EUI.
• For buildings on the Performance Pathway, make sure to check your progress using Adjusted Site EUI. This is the metric used by DOEE to evaluate compliance. Using this metric will allow you to get a more accurate understanding of how your building is progressing with respect to BEPS. In ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, this metric is called Site EUI Adjusted to Current Year. 
  • Why is Adjusted Site EUI used? It allows for a more accurate comparison between the baseline year and current year by accounting for weather normalization as well as building operating conditions such as hours and occupancy to reflect current conditions.
• Calculate your financial penalties (called alternative compliance payments) using formulas outlined in the BEPS Guidebook:
  • Performance Pathway: Chapter 7.1 Alternative Compliance Payments (formerly Chapter 6.1)
  • Standard Target Pathway: Appendix E Standard Target Pathway Maximum Payment Adjustment Calculator (formerly Appendix D)

Pathway selection 

Once you’ve checked your data and performance, make sure you’re on the right pathway for your building. Remember, a building on the Performance Pathway needs to reduce Adjusted Site EUI by 20% while a building on the Standard Target Pathway needs to meet the ENERGY STAR score for its property type. You have until December 31, 2026 to apply to change pathways.

• For buildings not on track for compliance and considering switching pathways to alleviate potential fines, check what your potential payment may be on each pathway using the formula described above.
• Pathway change applications are subject to DOEE approval.

For example:

Did you select the performance pathway and now find that your ENERGY STAR score is close to or even above the standard for your building type even though you haven’t reduced your adjusted site EUI by a full 20%? Consider switching to the Standard Target Pathway before the end of the year. Even if you haven’t met the standard, your payment may be less than if you had stayed on the Performance Pathway.

Step 2: Act

Improve existing operations and complete efficiency project

It’s not too late to continue making progress on reducing energy usage this year. DOEE will base evaluation on the data from the 2026 calendar year. Ideally any performance improvements would have been completed and commissioned by the end of 2025 to benefit from a full year of 2026 calendar data, however any operational improvements made over the next few months can still help overall performance demonstrated by this year’s benchmarking data.

Step 3: Prepare

Completed Actions Report

As part of BEPS reporting requirements, along with third-party verified benchmarking data, building owners need to submit a Completed Actions Report. This report demonstrates how building owners achieved their BEPS goals through information about the energy efficiency measures implemented. DOEE will use that information to improve the program moving forward. While the report is due next year, start pulling together your documentation now to ensure you have everything you need to finish with success.

• • Make sure to download and fill out the energy efficiency measures reporting spreadsheet from the link in the ticket.
  • You can access the Completed Actions Report form through the Building Owners Portal. You will need an account as described above.
  • Check out DOEE’s guidance on how to submit your report.
  • Reporting is due May 3, 2027.

Third-party Verification

Accurate benchmarking data is always important to understand and optimize your building operations, but this year the stakes are higher because it is the BEPS evaluation year.

To ensure accuracy of the data, your next benchmarking report for 2026 data, due on May 3, 2027, is required to be third-party verified. Looking ahead, data verification will be required every 6 years to align with BEPS cycles. Don’t wait until the last minute, start pulling together your documentation and hire a third-party verifier now.

Hub’s Third-Party Verification resources

• How-to Guide with verification tips and hiring help
• Vendor Matchmaking portal to find a third-party verification consultant
• Downloadable Third-Party Verification sample Scope of Work 
• Best Practices webinar recording with SWA from the first year this was required

Step 4: Get Help

Financial incentives and technical assistance

The DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) provides technical assistance and financial incentives to move forward with energy efficiency projects. You may even be eligible for a rebate for efficiency measures you installed this past fiscal year.

• Business rebates up to $100,000 for efficiency upgrades 
• Additional incentives for clinics, shelters, multifamily, and other buildings serving low- to moderate-income communities
• Affordable Housing Retrofit Accelerator
• Book time with a DCSEU account manager to learn about custom incentives, such as those related to lighting, cooling equipment, and other areas of performance

Apply for a delay of compliance

If meeting the energy performance requirement is practically infeasible by the end of a Cycle due to specific criteria outlined by the BEPS Guidebook, you can apply for a delay of compliance. Criteria may include specific circumstances related to a change of ownership, major renovation, or implementing innovative energy efficiency measures. Delays are subject to DOEE approval. The deadline to apply for a delay is April 1, 2027.

Financial distress

Buildings experiencing documented financial hardship are eligible to apply for a whole-cycle exemption if required building performance improvements could not be implemented due to financial constraints. BEPS Guidebook v1.2 issued in August includes new information on how to apply for an exemption. The deadline to apply for a delay or exemption is April 1, 2027.

Settlement criteria

If your building is not on track for compliance and you anticipate that DOEE will assess a payment, learn about your settlement options and start collecting relevant documentation. DOEE will provide further transparency around this over the coming months, but notably settlement is always an option.

Step 5: Plan Ahead

Looking ahead to the future of BEPS in DC, the next BEPS cycle will start in 2029, pushed back a year by the FY27 Budget Support Act. A few key things to note to prepare for the next BEPS cycle:

• The building size threshold will drop to 25,000 square feet.
• The standards reset January 1, 2029.
• Buildings that did not have to take action last cycle may have to take action.
• DOEE will introduce a new trajectory pathway, the BEPS Task Force is currently working on recommendations.

Takeaways

BEPS compliance is an opportunity to reduce risk and futureproof our buildings. By dedicating time and resources to building improvements, we can reduce operating costs, create better buildings for our communities, and safeguard our buildings against uncertainty. In these times when we’re seeing volatile energy prices and more extreme weather, more efficient, resilient buildings create long term stability, affordability, and certainty for owners, operators, and occupants.