Rules and Technical Guidance

The Rules and Regulations for Performance Requirements for Buildings 5,000-24,999 sq. ft. can be found here(PDF, 388KB).

The Technical Guidance for buildings 5,000-24,999 sq. ft. was approved during a public hearing on June 29, 2023. It was updated in July 2024.

We currently offer the Technical Guidance in English and Spanish. If you require the Technical Guidance in a different language, please email us at energizesmallbuildings@denvergov.org.

New Updates as of November 19, 2024

The list of allowable lighting professionals who can complete the Lighting Verification Template now includes:

  • Licensed Electrical Contractor registered with the State of Colorado
  • California Advanced Lighting Controls Training Program (CALCTP)

The following requirement has been removed from Section 3.1.1.1, Lighting Audit Requirements regarding lighting audits for multifamily buildings:

  • If units are being renovated or remodeled upon vacancy, the lighting auditor shall physically assess a minimum of one unit for each type of floor plan and one of each renovation type, in addition to all common spaces.

New Updates as of May 14, 2024

This list of allowable lighting professionals who can complete the Lighting Verification Template now includes: 

  • Master Electrician licensed in the State of Colorado 

Clarification: Xcel Energy Trade Partners must still possess one of the allowable lighting professional certifications; Trade Partner status by itself is not sufficient to meet the qualifications to verify compliance on behalf of building owners. Only contractors implementing Business Energy Assessment and Multifamily Efficiency programs on behalf of Xcel Energy can select the option of ‘Service Providers for Xcel Energy’s Multi-Family Building Efficiency Program and any Business Energy Assessment Programs’ as their certification when submitting lighting compliance documentation.  

When submitting a completed Lighting Audit Template and/or LED Verification Template as part of compliance documentation, the completed Microsoft Excel document must be submitted – scans and photocopies are not acceptable.  

New Updates as of November 16, 2023

The list of allowable lighting professionals now includes:

  • Service Providers for Xcel Energy’s Multi-Family Building Efficiency Program
  • Any Business Energy Assessment programs

Service Providers who perform these audits on behalf of these Xcel Energy programs can complete:

  • The Lighting Audit Template
  • The Lighting Verification Template
  • The Letter of Attestation for Lighting Compliance

 

For owners of multi-tenant buildings: There should only be one compliance submission per building. This is true even if it is a condominium or multi-tenant building. If tenants in a multi-tenant building choose to pursue compliance individually, you should:

  • Aggregate compliance documentation when submitting to the city
    • Combine individual lighting audits or renewable subscriptions
    • Ensure that the lighting professional certifies the entire building, if you chose the LED compliance path
  • Lighting audits must also include any shared exterior and parking lighting.

We encourage you to work with all tenants to plan for

  • Coordinated planning
  • Combined Energy audits
  • Aggregated compliance reporting

New Updates as of September 15, 2023

  • "Certified Lighting Efficiency Professional (CLEP)" and "Certified Energy Manager (CEM)" have been added to the list of allowable lighting professional certifications. Service providers with CLEP or CEM certifications can complete both Lighting Audit Template and the Lighting Verification Templates, as well as the Letter of Attestation for Lighting Compliance.

 

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