Building Performance Ordinance

The Boulder Building Performance Ordinance (Ordinance No. 8071) is a set of rating, reporting and energy efficiency requirements that move beyond current voluntary programs. This program aims to reduce energy use and improve the quality of Boulder’s commercial and industrial building stock.

For all commercial buildings, rating and reporting requirements are phased in based on building size. Deadlines for each requirement vary by building size.

There are four main requirements of the Boulder Building Performance Ordinance.

• Rating and Reporting
• Energy Assessments
• One-time Lighting Upgrade
• Retro-Commissioning

Exemptions

• Rating and Reporting exemptions may be available if a building is unconditioned and unlit; has operated less than a year based on the Certificate of Occupancy; or has proof of financial hardship. Exemption Reference Guide (PDF) and Exemption Request Form

Deadline Extensions

• Deadline extensions may be available. Submit the request online for review. Deadline Extension Request.

Enforcement

Owners of affected buildings are required to rate and report building energy data, and complete efficiency actions by the deadlines posted (see above). Failure to do so can result in fines of $0.0025 per square foot – up to $1,000 per day of non-compliance.

Any tenant of an owner subject to the provisions of this chapter shall, within 30 days of a request, provide the owner with any information required for compliance that cannot otherwise be acquired by the owner.

Large industrial or manufacturing campuses (LICs), multiple buildings served by a central plant or single utility meter, are have their own set of BPO requirements. Learn more about the requirements.

Transferring Ownership in Portfolio Manager

• If you sold your building, how to transfer the building to the new owner in Portfolio Manager.

Tenant Data Collection Worksheets - Worksheets to collect the property details necessary to set up the building in Portfolio Manager for rating and reporting.

*Manufacturing and industrial buildings have alternative tools available for completing annual rating and reporting.

Connect with Xcel Energy to automatically upload your monthly energy data. Interested in having your building's monthly gas and electric data automatically uploaded into your Portfolio Manager account? Find more information on Xcel's website and check out their step by step user guide.

Affected building owners must complete one-time lighting upgrades that meet specific energy codes for interior and exterior lighting power, controls and sensors as outlined below.

Every ten years, affected building owners must perform retro-commissioning, a process that improves the efficiency of existing building operations by “tuning up” and calibrating existing functional systems to run as efficiently as possible through low- or no-cost improvements.

Owners must implement the cost-effective measures (any measure with a payback period of two years or less with rebates) identified through retro-commissioning within two years of the study.

The scope of the requirements depends on the size of the building as shown below.

• The online training will take approximately 30 minutes to complete and must be completed in one sitting.
• Upon successful completion, your name and contact information will be added to the qualified list of service providers.
• You must complete all questions and submit your qualifications to complete the training. Failure to complete the submission at the end may require you to take the training again.
• It is suggested you keep a separate tab with the program website open during the course of the training.
• Please note: Information covered in this training is subject to change.