DC BEPS ComplianceFast, Simple, Guaranteed

DC's Building Energy Performance Standards come from the CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Code § 8-1772.21). Every covered building benchmarks its energy use each year in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. A building below its property type's standard is placed in a compliance cycle and must improve through one of DOEE's pathways by the end of the cycle. The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) runs the program.

50,000 sq ft

Privately owned buildings this size or larger are covered in Cycle 1; those below their standard on 2019 data must complete a pathway by December 31, 2026, unless DOEE approved a delay of compliance or a multi-cycle alternative pathway. District-owned buildings are covered from 10,000 sq ft. D.C. Code § 8-1772.21

Jan 1, 2029

Cycle 2 is set to begin, and privately owned buildings of 25,000 sq ft or more to join, a year later than before under the FY2027 Budget Support Act (the emergency act applies from October 1, 2026; the permanent act takes effect after the congressional review every DC law goes through). D.C. Act 26-416 · D.C. Act 26-418

Median

Most 2021 standards are the District median ENERGY STAR score for the property type (or source EUI where there is no score), from 2019 data; types with fewer than 10 DC buildings use the national median. Office 71, multifamily 66. D.C. Code § 8-1772.21 · 20 DCMR 3530 · Guide to the 2021 BEPS

20%

The Performance Pathway: cut site energy use intensity by more than 20% in 2026, against the 2018 to 2019 average, measured as DOEE's Adjusted Site EUI for property types with an ENERGY STAR score. DOEE Guidebook v1.2

$7.5M

The cap on the one-time payment for missing a pathway: up to $10 per square foot, reduced in proportion to progress. 20 DCMR 3521 · Guidebook v1.2 §7.1

D.C. Code § 8-1772.21Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE)

BEPS covers privately owned buildings of 50,000 square feet or more today, and District-owned buildings of 10,000 square feet or more. Privately owned buildings of 25,000 square feet join when Cycle 2 begins, set for January 1, 2029, and 10,000 square feet in Cycle 3, set for January 1, 2035. Floor area is Portfolio Manager gross floor area less parking, and structures that share systems or a meter count together. D.C. Code § 8-1772.21 · D.C. Acts 26-416 and 26-418 · 20 DCMR 3513

DOEE's BEPS disclosure on DC Open DataDOEE BEPS help center

Cycle 1 buildings chose a pathway by April 3, 2023; DOEE assigns one to a building that does not. For Cycle 2 the law adds a trajectory pathway with building-specific targets; DOEE has not published Cycle 2 standards or deadlines yet.

1. 01

   Performance

   Cut site energy use intensity by more than 20% in 2026, compared with the 2018 to 2019 average. DOEE measures it as Adjusted Site EUI for property types with an ENERGY STAR score, and weather-normalized site EUI for the rest. Open to every property type. DOEE Guidebook v1.2 §3.1

2. 02

   Standard Target

   For property types whose standard is at least the national median (an ENERGY STAR score of 50), such as office, multifamily, hotel and retail: meet or beat your standard in 2026. DOEE Guidebook v1.2 §3.2

3. 03

   Prescriptive

   Complete an energy audit, an action plan and approved efficiency measures, then verify them. The building complies once the measures are done and reported, whatever its energy result. The law names it only for Cycle 1; whether DOEE offers it in Cycle 2 depends on future rules. Guidebook v1.2 §3.3 · D.C. Code § 8-1772.21

4. 04

   Alternative Compliance Pathway

   For unique situations: deep retrofits over two or three cycles (for affordable, rent-controlled, campus, residential condominium and co-op, and COVID-distressed buildings), new construction, a change of property type, an adjusted baseline, or a campus. Custom proposals are due by December 31, 2026 and must name a backup pathway. DOEE Guidebook v1.2 ch. 4

Request AssessmentWe map each building to the path and dates that apply to it.

The payment comes once, at the end of the cycle, and shrinks with the progress a building makes.

• Missing the pathway: an alternative compliance payment of up to $10 per square foot, capped at $7.5 million per building, or per campus for colleges and hospitals.
• Progress reduces it: on the Performance Pathway, a 10% cut in site EUI halves the maximum. Missing or knowingly inaccurate data can bring the full maximum.
• Civil fines: $500 for each missed report, $1,000 for not selecting a pathway, $2,000 for a measure that threatens health and safety, higher for repeat offenses.
• Late benchmarking: up to $100 for each day a report is late.
• If DOEE agrees, a settlement can put the payment into efficiency work instead. If the project costs 120% or more of the payment, nothing is paid to DOEE. It must be requested before the notice of infraction.

20 DCMR 3521 · 16 DCMR 4018 · Guidebook v1.2 §7 · D.C. Code § 6-1451.03