Lakewood Energy Benchmarking

The “Establishing a Building Performance Program for the City of Lakewood, Colorado” law was passed by Lakewood City Council on February 23rd, 2026. This law requires owners of large commercial, multifamily, and public buildings 10,000 square feet or more to annually benchmark their whole-building energy use to the City of Lakewood.

Lakewood’s Building Performance Program aims at increasing energy efficiency and decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the building sector. The goal of the program is to help Lakewood building owners understand and track energy use from large buildings and reduce GHG pollution economy-wide.

Benchmarking is simply the measurement and tracking of energy use in buildings, which helps building owners and tenants better understand how their building’s energy efficiency performance compares to similar buildings and identify opportunities to cut energy waste and save money.

If you own or manage a public, commercial, or multifamily building of at least 10,000 square feet, you are required to comply. Additionally, buildings 50,000+ square feet will have to report to both Lakewood and the State of Colorado.

Your building may qualify for an exemption if any of the following apply:

• The Covered Building is a single family, duplex, or triplex residential home inclusive of accessory structures.

• A demolition permit has been issued for the entirety of the Covered Building and demolition work has commenced on or before the date the benchmarking report is due.

• The primary use of the Covered Building changes significantly, as determined by the Chief, and no longer meets the requirements of the Regulation.

• The Covered Building did not have a certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate of occupancy for all 12 months of the calendar year for which benchmarking is required.

• The Covered Building was not occupied, due to renovation, for all 12 months of the calendar year for which benchmarking is required.

• The Covered Building is experiencing qualified financial hardship, as described in the rules and regulations.

• The covered building is used primarily for manufacturing, industrial, or agricultural processes and meets specified requirements pursuant to the rules and regulations.

The city requires building owners to report their energy usage annually via the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager tool by June 1st.

All energy utilities including electricity, natural gas, district energy, and any other purchased fuel type used to operate your building.

Penalties for benchmarking non-compliance will begin after a notice of violation has been issued. Owners will have at least 30 days to correct the violation.

Owners who fail to correct the violation shall be required to pay a civil penalty of $2,000 each year.

Building owners must report their energy usage data to EPA’s Portfolio Manager, a reporting tool that allows building owners to compare their building’s energy efficiency with similar buildings. Buildings shall submit reports to both the City of Lakewood and State of Colorado.

In order to comply with Building Performance Colorado, all building owners are required to pay an annual fee of $100 per covered building.

However:

• Touchstone IQ for Buildings is a fast, easy-to-use tool that integrates directly with EPA’s Portfolio Manager

• Touchstone IQ also offers expert-led benchmarking to building owners and managers looking for streamlined compliance and cost-saving recommendations

Many benchmarking ordinances require a Building ID as part of the report submission process. If needed, you may be able to find your Building ID number here.

Learn about the Lakewood program and statute below:

• Lakewood Energy Benchmarking Program

• Lakewood Energy Benchmarking Ordinance

Touchstone IQ for Buildings offers expert-led benchmarking and easy DIY tools for Lakewood’s properties. Simplify energy benchmarking compliance while gaining the tools to save money and build your energy intelligence with our exclusive software platform. Gain access to the nation's leading energy experts to ensure significant improvements in your energy usage for your commercial, multifamily, or public building. Our team has partnered with entities of all sizes to reduce their carbon footprint, reach ambitious targets, and comply with new regulations. Whether you're looking for comprehensive, step-by-step guidance to craft your energy management plan or a convenient, intuitive benchmarking solution, we've got you covered. Schedule your free personalized demo today or contact us for pricing or questions.