Denver
City Scorecard Rank
7
Denver, CO
69.00Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 9.5 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
The city’s 80x50 Climate Action Plan sets a long-term goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050 compared to 2005 levels. The plan also sets emissions reduction goals at five years intervals. The 2025 goal is to reduce emissions 30% below 2005 levels. Based on ACEEE’s analysis of past years emissions data, ACEEE projects that the city will meet its near-term community-wide GHG emissions reduction goal.
The city released greenhouse gas emissions data on an online dashboard.
Energy Reduction Goal
The 80x50 Climate Action Plan sets a goal of reducing commercial and multifamily building energy use 50% by 2050. Like the city’s climate mitigation goal, the energy reduction goal has interim goals. The 2030 goal is to reduce energy use 30% in these buildings below a 2005 baseline. The city also has a goal to reduce energy use in single-family homes 10% by 2025.
Renewable Energy Goal
The city’s 80x50 Climate Action Plan has a goal of generating 100% of its electricity with renewable energy sources by 2030.
Last updated: August 2023
Equity-Driven Approaches to Clean Energy Planning, Implementation, and EvaluationList All
Equity-Driven Community Engagement
Denver's Climate Action Task Force hosted 2 rounds of small community meetings with hundreds of Denverites in February and March. The city also hosted Stakeholder Advisory Group meetings in April with youth, climate activists, labor and workforce, business and industry, people vulnerable to climate impacts, and frontline communities. Additionally, the city conducted equity-driven virtual outreach during the COVID-19 pandemic via Consider. It to encourage participation in climate action planning meetings. Denver promoted access to WiFi and digital devices, offered direct phone support, and sent community liaisons into marginalized communities to encourage online participation in the meetings. At least half of these efforts were conducted in Spanish.
Equity-Driven Decision-Making
We were unable to determine if the city has created a formal role for marginalized community residents or local organizations representing those communities to participate in decision-making that affects the creation or implementation of a local energy, sustainability, or climate action plan.
Equity Accountability Measures
The Climate Protection Fund has a mandate to spend 50% of the fund's budget with a lens towards equity and racial and social justice.
Last updated: August 2023
Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All
The City of Denver and Xcel Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) titled the Energy Futures Collaboration. The MOU cites microgrid deployment, district energy installation, and other approaches as integral to achieving the city’s climate and energy goals.
The city is creating a low-income solar garden located at the Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site. The city also received a $1 million grant to install community solar gardens at multiple city properties including parking lots, recreation centers, libraries, and schools.
Last updated: August 2023
Mitigation of Heat Islands List All
Urban Heat Island Mitigation Policies and Programs
The city has also passed a private tree protection ordinance.
In 2018, the city adopted a Green Buildings Ordinance that required all new developments over 25,000 square feet to install a cool roof. The ordinance also requires all existing developments of the same size undergoing roof replacements to install a cool roof.
Resilience Hubs
Denver's Renewables and Resilience Program funds up to 100% of the costs associated with installing solar panels, battery storage and EV charging for non-profit critical service providers.
Last updated: August 2023
Buildings Policies
Score: 26.5 out of 30 points
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
The State of Colorado is a home rule state meaning local jurisdictions may set their own building codes, if they choose to, for both residential and commercial construction. Localities that choose to set a building code must comply with the 2003 IECC at a minimum. The Denver Green Code includes the 2021 IECC for commercial and residential buildings.
Commercial
Denver has adopted the 2021 IECC with local amendments. The city’s zEPI score for their commercial energy code is 49.4.
Residential
Denver has adopted the 2021 IECC with local amendments. The city’s zEPI score for their residential energy code is 51.75.
Solar-readiness policies
The 2022 Denver Energy Code requires residential homes and commercial buildings to be solar-ready.
New buildings over 25,000 square feet must comply with the Green Buildings Ordinance which requires a cool roof plus one additional option which can be solar.
EV-readiness policies
The 2022 Denver Energy Code requires residential homes and commercial buildings to be EV-ready.
Low-energy use requirements
All buildings over 25,000 square feet built in Denver must comply with Denver’s Green Building Ordinance requirements. The GBO requires that all new buildings or additions over 25,0000 square feet take one of 8 possible actions: install a green roof or green space on their site, pay a fee in lieu of installing green space, install solar panels on 70% of the roof, build their building 12% more efficient than code, achieve LEED Gold certification, or achieve a combination of green and energy options above.
Electrification policies
The 2022 Denver Energy Code highly incentivizes all-electric construction and requires electric-ready for new homes and commercial buildings. It does not allow fossil fuel gas furnaces or water heaters in new commercial buildings.
Last Update: September 2023
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
Denver staffs two full-time employees who is solely dedicated to code compliance. The city has 120 plan reviewers and inspectors that are required to review (plan or inspection) a part of the 2021 IECC. Denver requires blower door tests for single-family homes, duplexes, and multifamily residential properties. The city’s commercial energy code requires building commission. Denver provides upfront support through public forums, online guidance documents, and a Green Code pilot program that offers review and feedback.
Last Update: September 2023
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
Commercial and multifamily benchmarking
In November 2021, Denver City Council passed the Energize Denver Ordinance that requires commercial, multifamily, and manufacturing/industrial/agricultural buildings 25,000 square feet and larger to submit annual benchmarking data and meet specific energy efficiency requirements.
Cross-cutting requirements
The city requires developments over 25,000 square feet to choose one energy action from a menu of option in accordance with the Green Buildings Ordinance.
Developments may choose one action to achieve compliance: incorporate a green space into the building, install solar panels or purchase renewable energy covering 100% of the building’s electricity needs, achieve LEED Silver certification or better, enroll in Energize Denver’s Energy Program, or pay a fee. If a development chooses to enroll in the Energy Program, it must achieve an ENERGY STAR score of 85 or better or improve energy use intensity by 10% if the development is under 50,000 square feet and by 15% if the develop is over 50,000 square feet within five years.
Rental energy disclosure
State bill HB21-1286 requires multifamily and commercial building owners to disclose energy-use information to prospective tenants and leasers. The requirement also requires disclosure at the time of lease renewal.
Building performance standards
In November 2021, Denver City Council passed the Energize Denver Ordinance that requires commercial, multifamily, and manufacturing/industrial/agricultural buildings 25,000 square feet and larger to meet Site EUI energy performance targets by 2030. Approximately 500 of the 3,000 buildings complying with this requirements are eligible for the Equity Priority building compliance assistance program.
Retrofit requirement
The Energize Denver Ordinance also requires buildings 5,000-24,999 sq. ft. to either install 90% LED lighting or source 20% of their energy use from renewables by 2027.
Time-of-sale requirement
State bill HB21-1286 requires multifamily and commercial building owners to disclose energy-use information to prospective buyers.
Incentives
The Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Program provides funding to nonprofit organizations that pursue energy efficiency improvements.
Property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing is available for commercial buildings for energy efficiency projects through Colorado’s C-PACE program.
The Denver Green Code and Affordable Housing Pilot Program offers expedited permit and fee reduction program for new construction.
Denver also caps solar permitting fees at $50 and offers a $150 credit to any permit choosing the ERI or performance path.
Denver's Renewables and Resilience Program funds up to 100% of the costs associated with installing solar panels, battery storage and EV charging for non-profit critical service providers (e.g., shelters, food pantries, medical clinics, affordable housing providers, etc.).
Program outcomes
The city collects data on its incentive or financing programs to understand participation rates and allocation of program benefits among disadvantaged communities
Last Update: September 2023
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All
Workforce development for disadvantaged workers
We could not determine if city has partnered with a local education institution, labor union, or community-based organization to create, support, and/or incentivize the development of clean energy workforce development initiatives that target training and support services for potential or existing workers from disadvantaged communities to obtain and keep in-demand jobs.
Workforce development for the broader community
Denver's Office of Climate Action, Resilience, and Sustainability's Green Jobs program provides funding to nonprofits, trade organizations, and educational institutions to enhance their workforce development programs.
Outcomes tracking
We could not determine if the city has instituted a mechanism to measure the performance and/or success of equitable workforce development initiatives focused on the clean energy sector.
Last updated: August 2023
Transportation
Score: 16 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
The Denver Moves Everyone Plan plan was released in 2023 and includes sustainable transportation strategies.
VMT/GHG Target and Stringency
The City of Denver does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
The City of Denver does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target, and therefore cannot make progress toward the target.
Last Updated: September 2023
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
In 2022, Denver modified its zoning code to allow ADUs in more districts by-right.
Parking Requirements
Denver has eliminated parking minimums in certain districts.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
The City of Denver does not have location-efficient development incentives or disclosure policies.
Affordable Housing around Transit
The City of Denver does not require, preserve, or incentivize the development of affordable housing near transit.
Last Updated: September 2023
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Targets
According to the Denver Mobility Action Plan, updated in 2023, the City has a goal of 50% of all trips being made by non-single occupant vehicles, 15% of trips by transit, 15% of trips by biking/walking, and 20% of trips by carpool/telework by 2030.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
The City of Denver did not provide data collected on mode share since the adoption of its goal; therefore, we cannot assess progress toward the goal.
Subsidized Access to Efficient Transportation Options
The City of Denver provides an EV car share service to low-income residents, offers an electric bike purchase incentive, offers free transit fares to children, and partners with Lyft to provide electric bike share services.
Last Updated: September 2023
Public Transit List All
Transportation Funding
The transit entities that serve the City of Denver have received $765,346,933.60 on average annually between 2017 and 2021 from local sources. That equates to roughly $262.11per capita between 2017 and 2021 within the service area.
Access to Transit Services
The AllTransit Performance Score measures a given community's transit access and performance. The score considers connections to other routes, access to jobs, service frequency, and the percent of commuters who ride transit to work. The City of Denver’s AllTransit Performance Score is 7.8, scoring 2 points in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficient VehiclesList All
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
Xcel Energy offers income-qualified rebates on electric vehicle purchases, with $5500 for new vehicles and $3000 for used vehicles.
Vehicle Infrastructure Incentives
Both Denver and Xcel Energy offer rebates to install EV charging infrastructure in homes. Denver offers a $1000-$2000 rebate to upgrade wiring and install a level 2 charging station, and Xcel Energy offers an income-qualified $500-$1300 rebate with further rebates for multi-family homes.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Requirements
The City of Denver does not require new developments to install EV charging stations.
EV Charging Locations
The City of Denver has 86 vehicle charging ports per 100,000 people available for public use.
Electric School Bus Goal
Neither the City of Denver nor the local school district have set an electric school bus goal.
EV Transit Bus Goal
Denver set a goal of transitioning 100 of its bus fleet to zero emissions by 2050.
BONUS: Equitable EV Charging
Denver is working with Colorado Carshare to provide 7 electric carshare vehicles and accompanying charging infrastructure at affordable housing properties in under-resourced communities.
Last Updated: September 2023
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
Denver does not have a sustainable freight plan or freight mobility plan. However, the city is pursuing multiple sustainable freight strategies, including cargo bike and e-bike delivery solutions, off-peak deliveries, and urban consolidation centers.
Open Data Portal
The City of Denver does not have an open data portal with real-time freight data.
Last Updated: September 2023
Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 13 out of 15 points
Community Energy Infrastructure Summary List All
Xcel Energy (Public Service Co. of Colorado), an investor-owned utility (IOU), is the primary gas and electric utility serving the City of Denver. In 2018, Xcel became the first large IOU to set a goal of zero carbon electricity generation by 2050 and also to cut carbon emissions 80% by 2030 company-wide. The City of Denver is an active promoter of Xcel’s energy efficiency programs. In March 2018, Denver’s Mayor and the President of Xcel Energy Colorado signed the Energy Futures Collaboration. This MOU guides a partnership focused on climate and energy goals and includes project work on efficiency, renewables, resilience, smart technology, and more. The State of Colorado requires spending and savings targets for its utilities through an EERS as well as efficiency requirements within demand-side management plans to be filed annually. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Colorado page of the State Database. On the state level, Denver strongly advocates for additional spending requirements for energy efficiency projects for all of its utilities.
Denver Water is an independent entity providing drinking water in Denver. The Metro Wastewater Reclamation District treats Denver’s wastewater. Denver Wastewater Management is the municipal utility charged with managing Denver’s stormwater. The Denver Energy Challenge, located in the Office of Strategic Partnerships, administers the energy efficiency programs in partnership with the utilities.
Last Updated: July 2021
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2019, Xcel Energy reported 472,335 MWh of net electric savings at the meter, which represents 1.62% of its retail sales across the utility’s entire service jurisdiction, not only in Denver. In 2019, Xcel spent $82,269,801 on electric energy efficiency programs, which represents 3.01% of its retail revenue.
In 2019, Xcel reported 6.49 MMtherms of net natural gas savings at the meter, which represents 0.49% of its retail sales across the utility’s service territory. In 2019, Xcel spent $14,471,991 on natural gas energy efficiency, which equates to $11.05 per residential gas customer. These savings figures cover Xcel’s entire service jurisdiction, not just the City of Denver.
Xcel offers natural gas and electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and commercial/industrial customers.
The City of Denver partners with Xcel through several programs. The Denver Energy Challenge cross promotes programs through mailings and customer service. The Denver Benchmarking Ordinance helps large commercial and multifamily buildings track energy consumption to enable the market to better value energy efficiency. The Denver Green Roof Initiative aims to help reduce cooling loads, among other goals, through reduced urban heat island effects and reduced roof heat-flow through on commercial buildings. Most recently, in March 2018, Denver’s Mayor and the President of Xcel Energy Colorado signed the Energy Futures Collaboration. This MOU guides a partnership focused on climate and energy goals and includes project work on efficiency, renewables, resilience, smart technology and more.
Last Updated: July 2021
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
Xcel Energy offers a portfolio of dual fuel programs to serve low-income residential customers, including the Single-Family Weatherization Program, the Low-Income Multifamily Weatherization Program, Low-Income Nonprofit Program, and Low-Income Energy Savings Kit Program. These programs provide no-cost weatherization measures through third-party product implementers. Measures include weatherstripping, insulation, replacement of inefficient furnaces and refrigerators, water efficiency measures, and installation of efficient lighting. Additionally, Xcel offers energy-savings kits to low-income customers. Xcel Energy’s low-income programs target high energy users and elderly customers and streamline eligibility through the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Weatherization Assistance Program income qualifications. Xcel Energy partners with the Colorado Energy Office and Energy Outreach Colorado, which actively work on low-income customer programs.
Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC) implements the utility’s low-income programs. Xcel Energy partners with the Colorado Energy Office and Energy Outreach Colorado, which actively work on low-income customer programs. EOC leverages funds from utility rebates, government funding, and donor funds to address health and safety and other needed repairs and measures. Xcel Energy provides $275,000 in utility funds per year to address health and safety threats tied to energy savings, such as boiler and furnace tune-ups, replacements, and water heater replacements. Additionally, Xcel offers energy-savings kits to low-income customers. Xcel Energy’s low-income programs target high energy users and elderly customers and streamline eligibility through the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Weatherization Assistance Program income qualifications.
The City of Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships (DOSP) supports the Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Program, which offers energy efficiency services and funding to low-income residential property owners and nonprofits in the City.
In 2019, Xcel Energy saved 7,028 MWh and 0.78 MMtherms of energy, while spending $3,855,148 and $3,863,558 on its electric and natural gas low-income programs, respectively. Xcel Energy served 9,061 electric and 5,260 natural gas customers. Households served include those receiving energy-saving kits and those participating in weatherization programs.
Multifamily Programs
Xcel offers the Multifamily Weatherization Program. This comprehensive program provides funding for a wide variety of natural gas and electric equipment retrofits, process improvements, facility audits and studies for low-income multifamily buildings. The company's rebates supplement federal weatherization grants to produce incremental, cost-effective natural gas and electric savings. Each submitted project is evaluated using a custom analysis by the company's energy efficiency engineers to determine cost-effectiveness. In some cases, rebates for additional energy-saving equipment are also made available.
In 2019, Xcel Energy’s Multifamily program saved 8,906 MWh and 0.21 MMtherms of energy, while spending $1,389,644 and $542,110 on its electric and natural gas multifamily programs, respectively. Xcel served 1,998 electric housing units and 24 electric multifamily properties. Xcel served 2,738 natural gas housing units and 37 multifamily properties.
Last Updated: July 2021
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
Xcel Energy does provide free automatic upload of monthly energy bill data to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager accounts, including aggregated whole building data for buildings with four or more tenants.
The City of Denver regularly intervenes in Colorado Public Utility Commission proceedings regarding Xcel's energy efficiency portfolio and plans to advocate for policies that more easily allow utility customers to share their own data with a third party for analysis. The City and County of Denver also advocates for better aggregation standards, whole building data access, and improved community energy reports. Additionally, as part of the City Energy Project, Denver worked to accelerate access to energy data to improve building efficiency.
The city of Denver and Xcel Energy provide community wide energy usage information for planning and evaluation purposes through Xcel’s Community Energy Reports on an annual basis.
Last Updated: July 2021
Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Cities and Energy UtilitiesList All
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
In December 2018, Xcel Energy set a goal to provide customers with 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. They also include an interim goal of reducing carbon emissions 80% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. To achieve this goal, Xcel Energy will need to reduce emissions by 6.1% annually from 2019 levels in the state of Colorado.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
The City of Denver actively participate in regulatory proceedings to advocate for a rapid and equitable decarbonization of Xcel Energy’s Colorado grid and to expand and increase access to voluntary renewable electricity programs. Denver is a currently an intervenor and active participant in several PUC proceedings that could significantly impact ratepayers in Denver and the ability for Denver to achieve our clean electricity targets.
Denver is also launching an initiative to leverage municipal space to provide geographically and socio-economically diverse locations at which to locate community solar gardens, energy storage systems, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) has invited Denver to submit a full application to the Renewable and Clean Energy Challenge grant program. Denver is requesting up to $5 million dollars to support implementation of the initiative. The initiative supports 1) renewable energy generation; 2) resilience; 3) energy burden relief and cost savings; 4) zero emissions vehicles; 5) community-engagement; and 6) education. It is intended create a blueprint, founded on community-engagement and equity considerations, for other Colorado communities to follow.
In January 2018, the city and county of Denver and Xcel Energy signed an innovative and progressive partnership agreement called the Energy Futures Collaboration. This partnership lays out an expedited pathway for Denver to pursue independent clean energy projects that help the city meet its energy and climate goals in partnership with Xcel Energy. The City and Xcel Energy participate in each other’s stakeholder groups through the Energy Future Collaboration.
The strategic efforts related to achieving 100% renewable electricity, community wide are to: 1) increase voluntary RE participation; 2) decarbonize the grid mix; and 3) develop local community-based renewable energy projects. Denver and Xcel Energy are working to finalize our 2020 Workplan (to be released in December 2019), which will include the development of municipally-hosted community solar gardens as a priority implementation project.
Clean Distributed Energy Resources
The City of Denver and Xcel Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) titled the Energy Futures Collaboration. The MOU cites microgrid deployment, district energy installation, and other approaches as integral to achieving the city’s climate and energy goals.
The city is creating a low-income solar garden located at the Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site. The city also received a $1 million grant to install community solar gardens at multiple city properties including parking lots, recreation centers, libraries, and schools.
Municipal Renewable Energy Procurement
Denver has installed 1508 kW of onsite solar capacity on city facilities.
City Renewable Energy Incentive and Financing Programs
Property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing is available for commercial buildings for energy efficiency projects through Colorado’s C-PACE program.
The Denver Green Code and Affordable Housing Pilot Program offers expedited permit and fee reduction program for new construction.
Denver also caps solar permitting fees at $50 and offers a $150 credit to any permit choosing the ERI or performance path.
Denver's Renewables and Resilience Program funds up to 100% of the costs associated with installing solar panels, battery storage and EV charging for non-profit critical service providers (e.g., shelters, food pantries, medical clinics, affordable housing providers, etc.).
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals
Denver Water partnered with Xcel Energy on Xcel’s Commercial Refrigeration Efficiency pilot program by providing efficient water pre-rinse spray valves when applicable as well as water efficiency information. Xcel also offers measures that reduce energy and water use, including low-flow showerheads, aerators, clothes washers and dishwashers. Denver Water offers free water audits to all customers as well as toilet and irrigation rebates and incentives.
Denver’s 2020 water quantity goal is to reduce per capita potable water use by 22% from 2001 (to 165 GPCD). That goal has been achieved and the city is finalizing a new water savings plan with goals.
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
Denver Water has not yet established a specific goal for energy efficiency in water services. Denver Water has implemented several energy efficiency initiatives at its pumping stations and reports its greenhouse gas emissions to The Climate Registry. As part of Denver Water’s comprehensive Operations Complex Redevelopment plan, overall energy use is expected to decrease by 5% annually. Additionally, Denver Water participates in Xcel Energy’s Process Efficiency program to identify opportunities for energy conservation specific to pumping operations. The Metro Wastewater Reclamation District also participates in Xcel Energy’s Process Efficiency program to identify opportunities for energy conservation specific to wastewater operations.
The Metro Wastewater District operates a 5 MW combined heat and power (CHP) system that captures methane gas and generates electricity used on-site. The National Western Center redevelopment is striving for net zero energy and will utilize the waste heat from Metro Wastewater’s Delgany line.
Last Updated: July 2021
Local Government Score:
4 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
Executive Order No. 123 established Denver’s Office of Sustainability. The Office is responsible for establishing sustainability goals and thus released the 2020 sustainability goals for both the community and local government.
Climate Mitigation Goal
Denver’s city government established a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from municipal operations to less than 354,000 MTCO2e by 2020. Progress towards municipal climate goals can be found on the city’s 2017 Progress Report. This goal has now expired.
Energy Reduction Goal
The city’s 2020 municipal goals establish an energy reduction target of 20% below 2011 usage. The city also participates in the Better Buildings Challenge. This goal has now expired.
Renewable Energy Goal
The city has set a goal to achieve 100% renewable energy for municipal operations by 2025. The city also has a goal to double renewable energy produced from city facilities over the 2012 baseline.
Last updated: May 2021
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet Policies and Composition
Per Executive Order 3 regarding the Motor Vehicle Program for the City and County of Denver, the Acquisition of all Fleet Vehicles is to be done in accordance with Executive Order 123 (EO 123). EO 123 requires the purchase of hybrids and the most fuel-efficient vehicles available for the light duty fleet wherever cost and reliability are similar. Additionally, Mayor Michael B. Hancock committed the city during the Sustainable Denver Summit on November 14th, 2016 to purchase at least 200 plug-in electric vehicles within the public works and safety departments by the end of 2020. This city monitors the use of its public fleet through the FASTER asset management data base software, which incorporates GPS technology to increase public fleet efficiency. Denver also uses Zonar as a GPS tracking technology within the Public Works, Parks and Facilities fleet. The technology is deployed on about 500 vehicles so far. Denver’s fleet is composed of 7% efficient vehicles, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicles.
Public Lighting
Denver has not adopted a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. Streetlights are owned by the electric utility, Xcel Energy. Denver is continuing to work with Xcel to complete a comprehensive LED replacement program for municipal streetlights. The city has completed Cobrahead conversions to LEDs for 27,771 of 44,000 total streetlights in Denver, approximately 63%.
Inclusive procurement
Denver has an inclusive contracting ordinance that sets goals for Minority and Women Business Enterprise contracting in city projects. A contract for a $26 million investment in Denver-owned community solar projects established a workforce training program, a target for at least 10% of the workforce of the solar portfolio to be hired from workforce training programs and underserved communities; 10 Solar Futures curriculum presentations at Denver Public Schools classrooms; two Solar Installation Basics trainings for students; community engagement; a solar installation volunteer event; and STEM learning mentorship and internships. Denver releases a disparity study every 5 years, the most recent in 2018. It includes a response to the 2018 study with planned actions for 2019.
Last updated: September 2023
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
The City of Denver has benchmarked 100% of public buildings in ENERGY STAR Portfolio manager, which amounts to approximately 10.5M square feet. Additionally, the city tracks the energy use of all of its buildings through EnergyCap. Energize Denver maps all benchmarked buildings.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
Near the end of 2014, the City had completed a Facility Condition and Assessment Program to review the overall condition of every city facility and determine where appropriate improvements should take place. The City is continuing its Facility Condition and Assessment Program. Information derived from these audits will be prioritized for implementation based on feasibility and available funding. The City is currently working to implement performance contracts with multiple Energy Service Companies to develop energy conservation measures for evaluation and review. The City recently completed the implementation phase of its first Energy Performance Contract (EPC). This contract totaled approximately $2M, covering 14 buildings of various functions, and has a projected payback of approximately 15 years.
Last updated: May 2021