PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Building Performance Colorado (BPC) is a statewide program aimed at increasing energy efficiency and decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the building sector. The program was created as a result of the “Energy Performance For Buildings” Statute and is administered by the Colorado Energy Office (CEO). The goal of the BPC program is to help Colorado building owners to understand and track energy use from large buildings and reduce GHG pollution economy-wide.
THE HISTORY OF BPC
The “Energy Performance for Buildings” Statute (House Bill 21-1286) passed the Colorado General Assembly on June 8, 2021 and went into effect on September 6, 2021. This law requires owners of large commercial, multifamily, and public buildings 50,000 square feet or more to annually benchmark their whole-building energy use to the Colorado Energy Office (CEO).
Benchmarking is simply the measurement and tracking of energy use in buildings, which helps building owners and tenants better understand how their building’s energy performance compares to similar buildings and identify opportunities to cut energy waste and save money.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BPC
Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with a building are known to cause increasing costs to utility ratepayers for increased energy production, negative health effects associated with air pollution, and worsening impacts of climate change.
Through the Building Performance Colorado Program, building owners will be able make energy improvements, reducing their emissions and energy costs. Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards will also support job growth in Colorado, especially in the energy efficiency sector.
