Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS)

The Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) were set forth in Title III of the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act of 2018. The BEPS is a minimum threshold of energy performance that will be no lower than the local median ENERGY STAR score by property type (or equivalent metric). The standards were created to drive energy performance in existing buildings to help meet the energy and climate goals of the Sustainable DC plan — to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption by 50% by 2032.

DOEE will establish the first set of standards by January 1, 2021. Standards will then be set every 6 years, creating BEPS periods (BEPS 1, BEPS 2, etc.). These requirements build upon the success of the District’s Energy Benchmarking program, so if you are mandated to benchmark, the BEPS program applies to your building. As the benchmarking requirements ratchet down in square footage over time, buildings will be subject to the BEPS requirements in following periods until all buildings 10,000 sq. ft. and over are following the performance standards.

BEPS 1: Private buildings ≥50,000 sq. ft. and DC-owned ≥10,000 sq. ft.
BEPS 2: Private buildings ≥25,000 sq. ft. and DC-owned ≥10,000 sq. ft.
BEPS 3: Private buildings and DC-owned ≥10,000 sq. ft.

Buildings that do not meet the standard for a BEPS period will be placed in a Compliance Cycle. The building owner has until the end of the Cycle to bring their building into compliance following one of the Compliance Pathways available. More details about the Pathways will be available once the rules and guidance documents are finalized by DOEE.

The 2021 Building Energy Performance Standards have been established through an emergency rulemaking and posted in the DC Register, effective January 1, 2021. All persons desiring to comment on the proposed rulemaking should file comments in writing not later than thirty (30) days after publication of this notice in the D.C. Register. Comments should be clearly marked “Public Comments: Establishment of the 2021 BEPS” and filed with DOEE, Benchmarking, 1200 First Street, N.E., 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20002, Attention: Building Performance and Enforcement Branch, or e-mailed to [email protected].

The proposed rulemaking for the BEPS program has been published in the DC Register. All persons desiring to comment on the proposed rulemaking should file comments in writing not later than sixty (60) days after publication of this notice in the D.C. Register. Comments should be clearly marked “Public Comments: BEPS” and filed with DOEE, Benchmarking, 1200 First Street, N.E., 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20002, Attention: Building Performance and Enforcement Branch, or e-mailed to [email protected].