The Prescriptive Pathway is one of the three Principal Compliance Pathways. This Pathway is available for all Property Types. It is an action-based compliance method that includes reporting milestones and implementing one or more recommended energy efficiency measures (EEMs) designed to achieve energy savings (a minimum Site EUI reduction of 20%) comparable to the Performance Pathway. Compliance under the Prescriptive Pathway is met by successfully completing specific actions and meeting reporting/verification requirements.
This Pathway is designed to help building owners mitigate risk for a Compliance Cycle—so long as they successfully implement the specific approved EEMs and meet all reporting/verification requirements, the building will comply, regardless of its measured energy performance. Because the Prescriptive Pathway is action-based and does not rely on a performance evaluation at the end of the Cycle, the selection of evaluation year(s) does not apply to this Pathway.
Important deadlines and requirements
Timeline Key
Major BEPS Cycle Milestone
Phase
Deadline or Deliverable
Phase 1 Begins
January 1, 2021 – April 1, 2023
Pathway Selection and Energy Audit
Benchmarking Report Due
A completed District Benchmarking Benchmark Results and Compliance Report is due for buildings ≥25,000 sq. ft. for calendar year 2021.
Phase 2 Begins
End of Phase 1 – April 1, 2024
Action Plan
Note: Phase 2 may begin as soon as Phase 1 is complete.
Benchmarking Report Due
A completed District Benchmark Results and Compliance Benchmarking Report is due for buildings ≥25,000 sq. ft. for calendar year 2022.
Phase 2 Deliverables
Submit Action Plan
Deadline to submit an O&M Program and Action Plan with a Final EEM Package to implement in Phase 3.
Phase 3 Begins
End of Phase 2 – April 1, 2026
Implementation
Note: Phase 3 may begin as soon as Phase 2 is complete.
Third-Party Verified Benchmarking Report Due
A completed, third-party verified District Benchmark Results and Compliance Benchmarking Report is due for buildings ≥25,000 sq. ft. for calendar year 2023.
Benchmarking Report Due
A completed District Benchmark Results and Compliance Benchmarking Report is due for buildings ≥10,000 sq. ft. for calendar year 2024.
Phase 3 Deliverables
Submit Implementation Report
Deadline to submit your Implementation Report, including 1) an Implementation Verification with supporting documentation to verify the EEMs were installed as approved, and 2) an attestation of implementation of the approved O&M program.
Phase 4 Begins
End of Phase 3 – April 1, 2027
Evaluation, Monitoring, and Verification
Note: Phase 4 may begin as soon as Phase 3 is complete.
Benchmarking Report Due
A completed District Benchmark Results and Compliance Benchmarking Report is due for buildings ≥10,000 sq. ft. for calendar year 2025.
Milestone: Compliance Cycle 1 Ends
This is the end of the BEPS 1 Compliance Cycle.
Phase 4 Deliverables
Submit Evaluation, Monitoring, and Verification Report
Deadline to submit an Evaluation, Monitoring, and Verification Report including, 1) Post-implementation Analysis, 2) Unfinished Phase 3 Verification, and 3) Updated O&M Program and Attestation.
