Building IQ

Building IQ header includes three building shapes

Buildings account for 57% of Aspen's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To reach climate goals, we must reduce emissions from buildings. 

Building IQ, Ordinance No. 05. passed on April 12, 2022 to address emissions from existing buildings in Aspen. Building IQ is a phased, two-part program: benchmarking and developing building performance standards. 

BUILDING IQ
Phase 1: BENCHMARKINGPhase 2: Building Performance Standards (BPS) 
Owners track their buildings energy and water use over time. A policy that requires buildings to make energy and water efficiency improvements over time.
Compare buildings energy and water use to the average for similar buildings, allowing owners and occupants to understand their building's performance and identify opportunities. Owners can improve a building's heating, cooling, and ventilation systems to use less energy, provide healthier air, increase comfort, and lower energy bills. 


Benefits of Building IQ

Through the Building IQ program, building owners can expect to: 

  • Conserve energy
  • Help manage your building
  • Identify short- and long-term savings
  • Support global climate action
  • Market as a green building
  • Inform City of Aspen energy programs

Benchmarking

The first step to saving energy and water in buildings is to benchmark — that is, to measure and track a property's energy and water consumption over time and compare it to similar buildings. The simple act of benchmarking can decrease energy use by 2-3% per year, a modest but meaningful reduction. The City is using the free EPA tool, ENERGY STAR®  Portfolio Manager. 

Start Benchmarking

The City's partner, the Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE), is available to help you benchmark your building. Visit CORE’s website for benchmarking help and resources. 

Ready to submit your benchmarking report to the City of Aspen? Click Submit.

Submit your benchmarking report

Do you need to get your utility data from the City of Aspen Utilities Department? Click here to fill out the form.

If you are not required to benchmark and would like to understand your building's energy and water use, start with a building assessment through CORE.

Who is Required to Benchmark?

In 2023, owners of commercial properties 15,000 square feet and larger are required to benchmark their properties by June 1, 2023. For the list of properties, click here. Owners should contact our partners at the Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE) to get started: tara@aspencore.org. 

Exemption Requests

Per the Building IQ ordinance, select properties may qualify for certain exemptions and/or extensions. Complete the appropriate form to submit your request. You may need a unique building identifier (UBID) to complete the request.

Building IQ Timeline: Benchmarking

SectorPropertyProperties first notice of upcoming benchmarking due dateProperty owners/managers collect property information and utility dataInitial Reporting DateCalendar year of utility data to report in the first benchmarking yearDate that property benchmarking information is included in annual aggregated community benchmarking report
Covered City PropertiesAll covered City propertiesN/ANovember 2021 - February 2022June 30, 20222021September 30, 2022
Covered Non-City PropertiesCovered Commercial properties ≥ 20k sq. ft.June 1, 2022June 1, 2022 - November 2022December 1, 20222021January 30, 2023

Covered Commercial properties ≥ 15k sq. ft. January 1, 2023January 1, 2023 - June 2023June 1, 20232022September 1, 2023

Covered Commercial properties ≥ 10k sq. ft.January 1, 2024January 1, 2024 - June 2024June 1, 20242023September 1, 2024

Covered Commercial properties ≥ 5k sq. ft. January 1, 2025January 1, 2025 - June 2025June 1, 20252024September 1, 2025

Covered Multifamily properties ≥ 20k sq. ft.January 1, 2024January 1, 2024 - June 2024June 1, 20242023September 1, 2024

Covered Multifamily properties ≥ 15k sq. ft. January 1, 2025January 1, 2025 - June 2025June 1, 20252024September 1, 2025


Click here for the summary report of the first year of benchmarking: covered City properties and covered commercial properties  ≥ 20 k sq. ft. 

View All

Contact

Clare McLaughlin
Sustainability Programs Administrator 
Email | 970-379-4845