# 664 Buildings, One December Deadline: Energize Denver’s September Briefing > Denver’s September 10 webinar put numbers behind the next compliance decisions: 664 small buildings with a December deadline, unresolved reporting, and a practical plan for 2028 targets. - Source: https://energyzedworld.com/bps/energize-denver-september-2026-webinar - Publication: EnergyzedWorld (https://energyzedworld.com) - Publisher: Eenovators Limited — https://eenovators.com - Category: Building Performance Standards - Published: 2026-09-12 - JSON: https://energyzedworld.com/api/posts/bps/energize-denver-september-2026-webinar.json ## TL;DR - 664 buildings in Denver’s 20,000–24,999 sq ft group were not marked compliant on September 8. That group’s deadline is December 31, 2026. - The city separately reported 341 unresolved benchmarking records and 562 incomplete data verifications as of September 9; the groups may overlap. - Denver announced that reporting-related Notices of Violation would begin September 14. Check the dates and requirements in your building’s own notice. - For a building assigned a 2028 interim target, plan improvements for 2027 so the benefits appear throughout the measurement year. Audit-rebate pre-approval is due December 15, 2026. --- import DenverWebinarGraphic from '../../../components/editorial/DenverWebinarGraphic.astro'; import WebinarSlide from '../../../components/editorial/WebinarSlide.astro'; import WebinarVideo from '../../../components/editorial/WebinarVideo.astro'; **664 Denver buildings in the 20,000–24,999 sq ft band were not yet marked compliant on September 8. Their deadline is December 31, 2026.** For larger buildings, the immediate task is different: resolve annual reporting and data-verification issues before they become a longer enforcement problem. Denver’s September 10 general briefing connected the latest rules to the decisions building teams need to make now: **identify the assigned deadline, close reporting gaps, and use the updated flexibility to build an achievable project plan.** This recap uses the city’s presentation and September 1 technical guidance. The numbers are dated webinar snapshots, not a live count of violations. The rules discussed here apply in the **City and County of Denver**; our [Colorado Compliance Index](/bps/colorado-compliance-index/) covers the wider state and local picture. ## 1. Under 25,000 sq ft: start with your deadline and pathway The city reported **391 buildings in compliance and 664 not in compliance** in the next deadline group. That means roughly **63% of the 1,055 listed buildings in this band** still had a gap to close. It does not mean they had already missed the deadline. | Gross floor area | Compliance due | In compliance | Not in compliance | |---|---|---:|---:| | **20,000–24,999 sq ft** | **December 31, 2026** | 391 | **664** | | 15,000–19,999 sq ft | December 31, 2027 | 358 | 720 | | 10,000–14,999 sq ft | December 31, 2028 | 264 | 1,530 | | 5,000–9,999 sq ft | December 31, 2029 | 405 | 2,988 | *Source: briefing slide 36; status as of September 8, 2026. Later deadline groups should plan ahead; these counts do not establish overdue violations.* The next decision is the **right compliance pathway**. A lighting professional can document at least **90% LED lighting load or 97% LED fixtures**. Owners already meeting the requirements may use the documented self-verification route. Other options address renewable energy, an estimated 15% energy reduction, qualifying restaurant improvements, residential-condominium common areas, or eligible heating-equipment electrification. Each has its own evidence requirements. [Small-building guidance, sections 3–4](https://denvergov.org/files/assets/public/v/3/climate-action/documents/buildings-and-homes/energize-denver/rules-and-tg/technical-guidance-for-small-buildings.pdf#page=12) **Practical move:** confirm your size and assigned deadline, inventory what already qualifies, and agree on the submission documents before commissioning work. In a mixed-use property, ask the Help Desk about combining different tenant pathways into one building submission. ## 2. At 25,000+ sq ft: check reporting and verification separately There was progress: the city’s unresolved benchmarking count fell from **480 to 341**, while incomplete verification fell from **909 to 562** compared with the previous month’s figures. But an accepted benchmarking report and completed data verification remain separate checkpoints. The webinar said **2026 benchmarking and data verification were due June 1**, with then-current extensions through September 1. Denver announced it would begin sending **Notices of Violation on September 14, 2026**. That is an announced start to notices, not a same-day fine for every building. **Practical move:** have your reporting team check submission acceptance, verification completion and extension status in the [Energize Denver Management Portal](https://portal.energizedenver.org/). If you receive a notice, work from its dates and required actions. The guidance provides a **90-day cure period** to address the issue or pursue the applicable extension or corrective process. [Large-building guidance, section 10.1](https://www.denvergov.org/files/assets/public/v/3/climate-action/documents/buildings-and-homes/energize-denver/rules-and-tg/technical-guidance-for-large-buildings.pdf#page=80) ## 3. A 2028 target belongs in the 2027 project plan Denver reported that **2,409 of 2,933 large buildings—82.1%—were on the 2028/2032 timeline**. Other buildings had earlier or different assigned timelines.
See the city’s original performance-timeline slide
**Do not assume the 2028/2032 shift is already on your record.** The city tied it to completing the **2025 reporting-year submission—2024 energy data—and opting in to the extension**. That is a different filing from the 2026 report discussed above. [Large-building guidance, section 7.2](https://www.denvergov.org/files/assets/public/v/3/climate-action/documents/buildings-and-homes/energize-denver/rules-and-tg/technical-guidance-for-large-buildings.pdf#page=63) The useful planning distinction is **measurement year versus construction year**. Improvements completed during 2027 can contribute savings throughout 2028. Waiting until late 2028 gives the building only a partial year of benefit in that year’s energy data. Denver makes this point in its [audit-rebate guidance](https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Climate-Action-Sustainability-and-Resiliency/Take-Action/Building/Rebates/Audit-Rebate). ## 4. Use the new flexibility with a documented plan The briefing clarified four decisions worth raising with your engineering team: | Decision | What to check | |---|---| | **Target adjustment** | Whether your building qualifies for a target adjustment or an audit-supported maximum 30% reduction target. This is an application route, not a universal requirement or automatic cap. | | **Capital planning** | A capital-cycle extension can align work through 2036 with a 2037 measurement period. Standard extensions carry near-term requirements; document the selected measures or justified exception. | | **Condominiums and specialist buildings** | Condo eligibility depends on size and mechanical configuration. Restaurants and manufacturing, agricultural or industrial buildings have specific provisions. Do not apply one pathway to every property. | | **A sale or management handover** | Include compliance status, approved notices and reporting records in due diligence. For covered large buildings, the seller must transfer the Portfolio Manager property and associated data. | These points come from briefing slides 15–24 and the [large-building technical guidance](https://www.denvergov.org/files/assets/public/v/3/climate-action/documents/buildings-and-homes/energize-denver/rules-and-tg/technical-guidance-for-large-buildings.pdf). Our [2026 rules guide](/bps/energize-denver-rules-2026-building-owner-guide/) explains the pathways in more detail. The performance policy does **not** impose a blanket requirement to electrify, replace HVAC before the end of its service life, or cut every building’s energy use by 30%. The building’s actual target and approved pathway should guide investment. ## 5. Put December 15 on the funding calendar Denver’s **energy-audit rebate pre-approval deadline is December 15, 2026**. The program supports eligible ASHRAE Level 2 or higher audits for covered buildings of at least 25,000 sq ft. Published rebate amounts are **$5,000 for 25,000–50,000 sq ft**, and **$2,500 plus $0.05 × total building sq ft for buildings over 50,000 sq ft**, capped at **$30,000**. Eligibility exclusions and funding limits apply; get the program’s pre-approval to reserve funds. Qualifying past audits may also be eligible. [Check Denver’s current audit-rebate terms and apply](https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Climate-Action-Sustainability-and-Resiliency/Take-Action/Building/Rebates/Audit-Rebate). ## Your next building meeting: three decisions 1. **Facility manager:** confirm the building ID, size, assigned timeline and open reporting items. 2. **Engineer or benchmarking provider:** verify the data, quantify the performance gap and document the suitable pathways. 3. **Owner or asset manager:** approve a budget, name a responsible person and set dates for submissions, funding and implementation. **Start with the [Energize Denver Management Portal](https://portal.energizedenver.org/) and the [official forms and guidance](https://www.energizedenver.org/resources).** Bring the building’s assigned timeline, accepted submissions and outstanding questions to the next meeting. For the complete city presentation, [watch Energize Denver’s official September 10 webinar](https://denvergov-org.zoom.us/rec/play/cYh97DLhWpsWbVwSfw9GgmAxxq4K0rCHHnZWwWVIR3SDVmh7ZxoiRecB2ZiFHsgAVSHRynnkPSFs1HVH.gJR4sAGPijJPU01S). ## Webinar and source documents - [Watch the city’s September 10 recording](https://denvergov-org.zoom.us/rec/play/cYh97DLhWpsWbVwSfw9GgmAxxq4K0rCHHnZWwWVIR3SDVmh7ZxoiRecB2ZiFHsgAVSHRynnkPSFs1HVH.gJR4sAGPijJPU01S). - [Energize Denver Navigation Center](https://www.energizedenver.org/) and [official forms and guides](https://www.energizedenver.org/resources). - [Small-building technical guidance, September 1, 2026](https://denvergov.org/files/assets/public/v/3/climate-action/documents/buildings-and-homes/energize-denver/rules-and-tg/technical-guidance-for-small-buildings.pdf). - [Large-building technical guidance, September 1, 2026](https://www.denvergov.org/files/assets/public/v/3/climate-action/documents/buildings-and-homes/energize-denver/rules-and-tg/technical-guidance-for-large-buildings.pdf). *Slides reproduced from the City and County of Denver / CASR’s September 10, 2026 general briefing supplied by the attendee. Original charts and interpretation: EnergyzedWorld. Official web guidance checked September 12, 2026. This is an independent webinar recap; the city’s notices and approved building-specific decisions govern.* ## Frequently asked questions ### Does Energize Denver apply to every building in Colorado? No. This article covers the City and County of Denver. Other Colorado jurisdictions and the statewide Building Performance Colorado program have their own coverage and deadlines. A Denver building may also have state reporting obligations. ### What is the next Energize Denver small-building deadline? For covered buildings of 20,000–24,999 square feet, the deadline is December 31, 2026. The remaining bands are 15,000–19,999 square feet in 2027, 10,000–14,999 in 2028, and 5,000–9,999 in 2029, all on December 31. Confirm any approved building-specific extension. ### Can I add the 341 benchmarking cases and 562 verification cases? No. These are separate status counts from the September 9 snapshot and may include some of the same buildings. They are not an identified set of 903 unique buildings. ### Does every large building automatically have a 2028 and 2032 timeline? No. The briefing reported that 82.1% of its large-building inventory was on that timeline. The standard shift required completing the 2025 reporting-year submission, using 2024 energy data, and opting in to the extension. Check the timeline assigned to the building. --- Content © Eenovators Limited. Quote with attribution and a link to https://energyzedworld.com/bps/energize-denver-september-2026-webinar.