Washington DC BEPS
Washington DC’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) was passed as part of the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act of 2018 with the BEPS Period beginning in 2021. The policy is overseen by the Building Performance and Enforcement Branch (BPEB) which is part of the Energy Administration’s (EA) Data and Benchmarking Division (DBD).
What will the impact be?
Washington DC’s BEPS policy was created to meet the city’s Sustainable DC plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption by 50% by 2032.
Who is affected by this policy?
Benchmarking is currently required for buildings; DC owned buildings have a different timeline than those of the private sector, so we will focus on the private sector. Private commercial and multifamily buildings ≥ 25,000 square feet report annually by April 1 for the previous year’s data. Beginning in 2025 (reporting 2024 data), buildings ≥ 10,000 square feet are subject to benchmarking.
The BEPS policy applies to buildings depending on square footage, incorporating more buildings over time. BEPS includes benchmarking and energy performance requirements to be met.
BEPS Period 1 (2021-2026): Privately Owned Buildings ≥ 50,000 square feet
BEPS Period 2 (2027-2032): Privately Owned Buildings ≥ 25,000 square feet
BEPS Period 3 (2033-2038): Privately Owned Buildings ≥ 10,000 square feet
What are the requirements?
Buildings must benchmark and report whole building energy and water usage as well as meet the energy performance standards set for multifamily (for buildings subject to the BEPS policy).
Benchmarking and Third Party Verification
Whole building energy and water usage must be reported annually by April 1st to the District Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
Reports must be verified every three years by a third-party, beginning in 2024. The third-party verifier must not have a relationship to the building owner/manager or benchmarking reporter. They must be an Approved District Data Verifier (ADDV) such as a Professional Engineer, Licensed Architect, or Certified Energy Manager.
Performance
Depending on the building type, performance targets are set using either ENERGY STAR Score or the Source Energy Use Intensity (EUI) which is energy use per square foot per year. Buildings must meet their respective target by the end of every 5 year compliance cycle to avoid penalties (to be described later in this article). The standard itself will be set every 6 years which creates the BEPS periods (BEPS 1, BEPS 2, etc.).
The BEPS policy offers building owners multiple pathways for buildings to be compliant. Building owners officially select the Pathway by submitting the Pathway Selection Form. Switching pathways requires submitting a Pathway Change Application with the necessary documentation and it must be approved by the DOEE. These are the Principle Compliance Pathways:
Standard Target Pathway: High performing properties with a standard above the national median must meet the standard.
Performance Pathway: Reduce Site EUI by 20%.
Prescriptive Pathway: Conduct an audit, create an action plan, implement energy efficiency measures; and complete monitoring, evaluation, and verification.
Penalties
Benchmarking Penalty: Failure to meet the reporting requirements results in a fine up to $100 per day for every day the building is not in compliance.
Performance Penalty: Failure to meet compliance at the end of the compliance cycle results in a penalty of a maximum of $10 per square foot of gross floor area. Penalty adjusts based on the percentage the building is from the target. For example, if you have a building that is 50% of the way towards the target, the penalty is $5 per square foot.
Do I have other options?
Alternative Compliance Pathways also exist outside of the Principle Compliance Pathways for qualifying buildings and must be approved.
Additionally, buildings that are demolished are exempted.
Is data publicized?
Basic property information and compliance metrics are shared publicly through the Building Energy Performance Disclosure Map and District of Columbia Open Data Portal. This means that your residents, competitors, investors and lenders will have access to your compliance metrics.
How do I fund my upgrades?
The DOEE provides several tools and resources to help conserve energy in your building. Additionally, there are a number of financial opportunities including grants, loans, and rebates that help offset capital costs. These can be found through federal, state, and local governments as well as utility providers.
GreenT Climate Software provides a streamlined solution to help you stay current on compliance requirements and manage risk. For more information on how GreenT can help, please contact us.