DCBIA Building Energy Performance Standards Info & Advocacy Session

The District has pledged to become carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2050. Slashing carbon pollution requires both imagination and bold action to transform our buildings. This includes improving the efficiency and health of existing buildings, repowering them with clean, renewable energy, and constructing new buildings that generate as much clean energy as they use.

Set by the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act of 2018 and administered by the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE), the Building Energy Performance Standards (or BEPS) program is a regulatory tool and program to help meet these ambitious green building and climate goals. BEPS sets a minimum threshold for energy performance for buildings, which impacts design, construction, and operation of every building in DC over 10,000 sq. ft., including commercial office, multifamily affordable housing, multifamily market-rate housing, schools, retail, and hospitality.

The proposed rules for BEPS are now open for public comment until March 4, 2021.

Join DCBIA and AOBA for this one-hour informational and advocacy session.

Who should attend: architects, attorneys, contractors, developers, energy consultants, property managers, and other real estate professionals. 

The event includes facilitated small break-out rooms to hear directly from you about the proposed rules. This is the last opportunity for DCBIA and AOBA members to share concerns and offer feedback about the proposed rules prior to submitting formal comments to DOEE on behalf of the industry. 

Presenters: 

• James Ball, Vice President, Business Development, MaGrann Associates
• Excetral Caldwell, Senior Counsel, AOBA
• More presenters TBA

For DCBIA and AOBA members only.

Building Innovation Hub

• DC Building Energy Performance Standards Overview:
• Building Innovation Hub overview and FAQs about what this new regulation is
• BEPS Standards And Draft BEPS Rules Released: This article breaks down the proposed ordinance into straightforward language
• Where DC’s Building Code Meets BEPS: How DC’s Building Energy Performance Standards for existing buildings overlaps with DC Energy Conservation Code for new buildings.
• BEPS Targets For New Construction: This guide outlines how to design for various BEPS-related metrics, including site energy use intensity (site EUI) and ENERGY STAR score.
• Priority Action Playbook: This suite of resources, with a playbook specifically devoted to architects, outlines a list of actions for each profession and describes what they need to do to be prepared to prioritize energy efficiency. This can be used to improve your own practice or as a tool for having a conversation with other stakeholders.

DOEE

• BEPs Benchmarking Proposed Regulations.
• BEPs Application Proposed Regulations. Comments Now Due on March 4.

AOBA

• AOBA comments on the benchmarking rules. Comment period for this has ended.
• AOBA and DCBIA’s letter to DOEE asking for delay. DOEE’s response letter.

Other

• Stroock BEPs summary is here (note due dates have changed since the publication).