Clean Energy DC Act

January 14, 2021

Energy Efficiency Improvements

Attention DC Building Owners: The Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 (the CEDC Act) is now in effect. The Act was created to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2023. Title III of the Act affects building owners in the District. Building energy use accounts for almost 75% of DC’s greenhouse gas emissions. Title III, Building Energy Performance Standards, was conceived to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings.

Existing buildings are to exhibit a minimum level of energy efficiency to meet the Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS). BEPS is based on ENERGY STAR scores for each building type. Building owners need to track their annual energy consumption through the established Energy Benchmarking program. Buildings that perform below the median baseline need to demonstrate energy improvement or fines will be inflicted.

Buildings at or below the Energy Star median line must increase their energy productivity 20% over a five year compliance cycle. DC’s Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) will begin conducting energy performance assessments every five years starting in 2021.

The DOEE's BEPS standards will go into affect for existing buildings as follows:

January 1, 2021: All private buildings 50,000 SF+ and all District-owned buildings 10,000 SF+

January 1, 2027: Private buildings between 25,000 SF and 49,999 SF

January 1, 2033: Private buildings between 10,000 SF and 24,999 SF

Read more on the Clean Energy DC Act at https://doee.dc.gov/service/clean-energy-dc-act.

This recently completed project involved the full rehabilitation of a large commercial building, located at 700 Quince Orchard Road in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The property was purchased in 2015 by the Rock Creek Property Group, LLC as an adaptive reuse/investment. The 177,000 square foot building includes one full level of covered parking, two levels of commercial space, and a large penthouse space. With the property having been left abandoned for a number of years, the building required a full building envelope rehabilitation. The building received a comprehensive “face lift”, as designed by DVA Architecture, with the work being performed by the lead contractor, Coakley Williams Construction.

Becht Engineering BT, Inc. was brought onto the project team to serve in the role of Owners Representative, providing expertise in the oversight of the rehabilitation of the entire building exterior. Becht’s responsibilities included involvement in the installation of new windows, doors, wall panels, roofing systems (flat and sloped), repairs to the masonry façade, and the application of the high performance coating which was applied to the masonry facade.

Along with Becht’s role in assuring that the work was performed in compliance with the project specifications and to the satisfaction of industry standards, Becht also took the additional necessary steps to assure that the products and materials that comprised the building envelope were installed in a manner which would preserve all applicable product and performance warranties for the owners.

If you plan to be involved in any large project where the role of Owners Representative would bring value to the project, please feel free to contact our offices at 800.772.7991 or information@bechtbt.com to discuss the possibility of Becht becoming a member of your project team.

Becht Engineering BT, Inc. can assist building owners with DC's Energy Benchmarking Program. Our professionals would measure your building's current energy and water consumption and compare this to similar buildings, utilizing the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Thereafter, the goal would be to reduce your building's energy consumption with energy reduction designs. Our firm can also assist by making the following energy improvements on your properties: