DC Building Energy Performance Standards

A BEPS sets a minimum threshold for energy performance for existing buildings. These standards are based on and measured against a building’s demonstrated energy performance, as shown in their benchmarking data.

In the District, large buildings owners (≥50,000 sq. ft. for privately-owned buildings and ≥10,000 sq. ft. for District-owned properties) have been benchmarking their energy and water performance for nearly a decade. This information is reported to the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) on an annual basis using a free, online platform called ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.

Under BEPS, the District aggregates individual building performance information per property type to establish a standard for buildings to meet. Buildings that do not meet the standard for their property type will be required to improve their performance over the course of a compliance cycle and demonstrate their accomplishments at the end.

You can check if your building meets BEPS on DOEE’s publicly accessible database, called the Building Energy Performance disclosure.

BEPS builds on the District’s benchmarking program, so if you are mandated to benchmark your property, the BEPS program applies to your building. Therefore, the first BEPS period will apply to private buildings larger than 50,000 sq. ft. and DC-owned buildings larger than 10,000 sq. ft.

By April 1, 2022, all privately-owned buildings over 25,000 sq. ft. will be required to benchmark (starting with calendar year 2021 data), and by April 1, 2025, all privately-owned buildings over 10,000 sq. ft. will be required to benchmark (starting with calendar year 2024 data).

See our article on DC’s benchmarking regulation, including how to get started.

As the benchmarking program ratchets down in square footage over time, buildings will be added to the BEPS program in following periods until all buildings 10,000 sq. ft. or larger are required to comply with BEPS.

A new building becomes an existing building as soon as it’s built. If you are required to benchmark, per the information listed above, you must start benchmarking your building starting the calendar year after receiving your Certificate of Occupancy and once a full calendar year of utility data can be collected. After a full calendar year of benchmarking data has been reported, a new building will be required to meet the standard at the beginning of the next BEPS period.

For information about how buildings built under the District’s new buildings code fare against the BEPS requirements, please see our resource, Where DC’s Building Code Meets BEPS.

Nothing! However, you should look ahead to future BEPS periods and make sure the building stays above the Standard for its property type. As overall building performance improves in the District there will be incremental improvements in the Standards over time. So if your building is close to the Standard for its property type, you should consider additional energy conservation measures now, outside of the DOEE regulatory requirements, to stay ahead of the Standard in future periods.

Buildings that do not meet the Standard for a BEPS period will be required to follow one of the Compliance Pathways and meet the associated requirements and deadlines, which vary per Pathway.

Even though the Compliance Period may seem long, there are interim deadlines to be aware of. Building owners whose buildings don’t meet the BEPS for the first compliance cycle will be required to select a compliance pathway no later than April 3, 2023. There are additional requirements due at that time as well, depending on the Pathway selected.

Additionally, improving building performance takes time. It takes time to understand your building’s performance, evaluate what options are available, assess your financial situation, prepare drawings and/or get a permit to do improvements, hire contractors to do the work, commission the work to ensure it’s performing as intended, and generate the record of improved performance needed to get full credit for improvements. It behooves building owners to come up with a strategic plan for improving their building’s performance as soon as possible.

The Hub is maintaining an up-to-date article on the latest information regarding the BEPS and Benchmarking regulations.

To stay up to date as the rules get finalized, please sign up for the Building Innovation Hub’s newsletter.

The Building Innovation Hub has developed a Funding and Financing Map that presents the multitude of financial incentives available to assist the District’s building owners improve building performance.

Additionally, the DCSEU and DC Green Bank are offering enhanced technical and financial assistance to owners and managers of qualifying affordable multifamily buildings that do not meet the BEPS. Learn more about the Retrofit Accelerator.

The cost of energy efficiency upgrades will vary from property to property depending on existing operations and maintenance levels, previous capital improvement projects, and the types of systems present. As a first step, buildings owners should verify that their benchmarking data is accurate and consider engaging an energy auditor to provide recommendations. The U.S. Department of Energy produced a Guide to Energy Audits for more information about the process.

Enforcement mechanisms to promote compliance include an alternative compliance penalty for failure to meet the energy performance requirements of a building’s approved Pathway at the end of a Compliance Cycle, and civil infractions for not meeting required, interim reporting deadlines or requirements. Learn more in our summary article.

For the vast majority of cases, a building’s historic status does not interfere with its ability to meet the energy performance requirements of BEPS, as there is no correlation between building age and performance, as can be seen in an analysis of the District’s benchmarking data.

However, DOEE may approve a baseline adjustment or a delay for buildings with historic status. See the Building Energy Performance Standards Compliance Guidebook for more details.

Additionally, check out the District’s Office of Planning’s Sustainability Guidelines for Older and Historic Buildings for more information.

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