Conduct
an Energy Audit
An energy audit is a detailed inspection and analysis of your building performed by a qualified third-party contractor.
Energy audits are not required for all buildings. However, even if an audit isn't required for your building, it can be a valuable planning tool.
When Is an Energy Audit Required?
For most buildings, an energy audit is only required if you are pursuing one of the following:
A Customized Target Adjustment
Including a Custom Target, the 30% Energy Use Reduction Target, or the Historical and Unique Building Target Adjustment.
An Alternate Compliance Option
Specifically, a Timeline Extension or the prescriptive pathway of the Manufacturing, Agricultural, and Industrial Building ACO.
If none of the above applies to you, an audit is optional but recommended.
An audit will identify your building's major energy uses and recommend cost-effective efficiency improvements, giving you a clear roadmap for reaching your energy efficiency target.
Getting Started
Include a path to compliance.
When outlining the scope of work, ask your contractor to include a plan for achieving compliance with Energize Denver performance requirements.
Use the results to plan your upgrades.
Your audit findings can feed directly into your compliance plan.
Standards for Required Energy Audits
Audits that are required for customized targets and alternate compliance options must follow ANSI/ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 211-2018 and be a minimum of an ASHRAE Level 2 audit. The third-party auditor must hold one of the following credentials:
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Professional Engineer (licensed in the United States)
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Certified Energy Auditor (AEE)
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Certified Energy Manager (AEE)
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Building Energy Assessment Professional (ASHRAE)
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High-Performance Building Design Professional (ASHRAE)
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Multifamily Building Analyst (BPI)
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Energy Management Professional (EMA)
Audits for custom targets must be more robust than those used for a Timeline Extension, including life-cycle cost analysis and at least two contractor bids for each measure. More information is available in section 5.6.2.1 of the Technical Guidance for Buildings 25,000+ sqft.
Energy Audits for Campuses
Campus energy audits do not have to contain detailed information on each individual building 25,000 sq. ft. and larger. Compliance with energy efficiency targets is evaluated on an individual building basis, based on how the campus is benchmarked.
Submitting your audit through the Audit Template Tool
The Audit Template Tool provided by the Department of Energy is the standardized platform for submitting your audit. Follow these steps:
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Select “Audit Template.”
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Under “Add Building Report,” choose “Denver Report.”
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Review all information to confirm accuracy, then submit your audit.
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