Explore Adjustments, Incentives, and Exclusions
Your energy efficiency target was set from your building’s type and how you benchmarked. If your benchmarking data wasn’t right, or your building operates in a way that isn’t being accounted for, there are ways to normalize your target. You can also reduce the energy counted against your target during evaluations.
None of the options below are required. They are meant to make compliance more achievable.
Apply Once · by Dec 31
I Think My Target Needs Adjustment
Standard Target Adjustments (Apply Once)
A standard target adjustment modifies your target so it reflects your building more accurately.
You can request more than one adjustment on a single application. Every standard target adjustment requires a Data Verification Checklist signed by a third-party verifier. See section 5.4 of the Technical Guidance for a full list of adjustments, when it makes sense to apply for a second adjustment, and application requirements.
Deadline: You can apply at any time. To count towards a target year, your application must be submitted by December 31 of that year.
Adjustments are available for:
Correcting benchmarking errors (square footage, building type, energy data, etc.)
Operating hours for certain building types
Specific energy uses (parking lots, heated pools, data centers)
Buildings that contain restaurants
Adaptive reuse (change in occupancy type)
Buildings with more than three property types
Not sure which of these applies to your building? Contact the Help Desk.
Apply Once · If Eligible
I Still Can’t Reach My Target
Customized Target Adjustments (Apply Once)
If you’ve received an approved standard target adjustment, completed an energy audit, looked at your renewable options, and your target still isn’t reachable, there are other ways to adjust it.
See section 5.6 of the Technical Guidance for eligibility and application requirements or contact the Help Desk to discuss which option makes the most sense for your building.
Other ways to adjust your target:
30% Energy Use Reduction: The simplest option. This makes your final target a 30% reduction from your baseline year.
Historical and Unique Buildings: Only for buildings on historic registers and building types that were assigned a 30% energy reduction target. With a basic energy audit, the city will work with you to find the right target for your building.
Custom Target: The most involved option. Your target is built from your audit and is based on what’s technically achievable for your building. It's worth estimating the result before applying, since you may receive a target that's more stringent than the one you already have.
Not sure which of these applies to your building? Contact the Help Desk.
Report Annually · by June 1
I Charge Vehicles at My Building
Transportation Energy Use Exclusion
(Report Annually by June 1)
Vehicles that draw their energy from your building’s meters aren’t part of operating your building. If that energy is sub-metered, you can exclude it at 1 kWh or 1 therm removed for every 1 reported.
Important: If your EV charging stations aren’t sub-metered, you can apply for a one-time standard target adjustment instead. Use one method or the other; claiming both for the same charging stations is double-counting and will be flagged by the city.
This exclusion is for:
Electric fleet vehicles
EV charging stations, public or private
Compressed natural gas (CNG) fleet vehicles
Electric or CNG forklifts
Elevators and escalators are not transportation energy use. See section 6.2 of the Technical Guidance for what qualifies and how to report it.
Multiple Options
I’ve Electrified or Use Renewable Energy
Credit for Renewable Energy
(Report Annually by June 1)
Renewable energy you generate or buy is subtracted from your building’s total energy use before your target is evaluated. For every kWh your renewable systems generate in a year, 1 kWh is removed from your building's reported energy use for that year. Installations you own inside Denver earn an enhanced credit of 1.5 kWh for every 1 kWh.
What to know about the renewable energy credit:
The renewable energy must be located in Colorado or in Public Service Company of Colorado territory. Short-term subscriptions are capped at 20% of the building’s electricity use and don’t earn the Denver enhanced credit.
Whether you kept the Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) doesn’t matter. If Xcel Energy retained the RECs in exchange for an incentive, your generation still counts in full.
For more information, download the Renewable Energy for Buildings 25,000 Sq. Ft. and Larger guide (PDF, 364KB).
Electrification Incentive (No Action Needed)
If 80% or more of your building’s site energy comes from electricity, your target is raised by 20%, making it easier to achieve.
Important: You can lose this incentive if your share of electricity drops below 80% in your benchmarking report.
Use the Building Performance Forecasting Calculator to estimate how this affects your path to compliance.
What to know about the electrification incentive:
No application is necessary, as the city checks this each year from your benchmarking report.
MAI buildings aren’t eligible for this incentive. See section 4.5.5 of the MAI Technical Guidance for the Fossil Fuel Reduction Incentive.
For more information, download the Renewable Energy for Buildings 25,000 Sq. Ft. and Larger guide (PDF, 364KB).
Non-Emitting Thermal Energy Network Incentive (Apply Once)
If your building receives heating, cooling, or hot water from a non-emitting thermal energy network, such as geothermal, wastewater heat recovery, or a similar shared system serving two or more buildings, then your target is raised to reflect it. The amount depends on how much of your energy moves to the network and how efficient your new equipment is.
You can keep an existing gas connection for emergency backup only.
