One Energy Retrofit That Meets DC's New Clean Energy Act

Anica Landreneau

WASHINGTON, DC—Washington DC recently passed the most progressive climate legislation in the country. The Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS), as outlined in Title III of the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act of 2018, states that, starting in 2021, owners of buildings over 50,000 square feet that are below a specific energy performance threshold will be required to improve their energy efficiency over the next 5 years. Projects below the performance threshold will be able to choose between a performance pathway, which requires that they document a 20% reduction in energy usage over the 5 year compliance period, or a prescriptive list of required energy efficiency measures.

“The Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act outlines guidelines to meet the goal for the city to cut 50% of its carbon emissions by 2032,” explains Anica Landreneau, HOK’s Director of Sustainable Design, who also serves on the DC Green Building Advisory Council and helped craft/support the development of the bill.