DC BEPS in Scaler

Explains how Washington DC's Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) are represented in Scaler, which buildings are in scope, and how compliance is evaluated against an energy-use limit rather than an emissions limit.

Building Performance Standards (BPS) are local laws that require large buildings to meet progressively stricter performance limits over time.

DC BEPS is Washington DC's Building Performance Standard, administered by the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). Unlike emissions-based standards such as LL97 or Boston BERDO, DC BEPS sets a minimum energy performance level. Buildings that fall below the standard at the start of a compliance cycle must improve over that cycle.

Tip: The easiest way to view DC BEPS compliance for your portfolio is the Local Regulations page in Analytics Portal. This article explains the methodology behind what you see there.

DC BEPS evaluates Source Energy Use Intensity (EUI) — the total source energy a building uses per unit of floor area per year. It does not measure greenhouse gas emissions.

This is an important distinction from emissions-based standards:

Because DC BEPS is energy-based, emission factors do not affect the compliance result. Scaler evaluates the asset on its source energy use, not its carbon.

DC BEPS applies to privately owned buildings at or above a gross floor area threshold set by DOEE, covering multifamily, commercial, and public/government property types. Applicability criteria, performance standards, and penalty rates are set by DOEE and may be revised over time — for the authoritative current source, see the DOEE BEPS page.

Note: DC's benchmarking threshold is lower than its performance-standard threshold, so a building can be required to benchmark (report its energy use) without yet being subject to the performance standard. The two are tracked in separate sections of the Local Regulations page.

Scaler identifies assets in scope from location and size, then evaluates each one against the Source EUI standard for its property type.

For mixed-use buildings, Scaler applies a weighted standard across the property types in the building's Building Units.

DC BEPS penalties are based on the building's floor area and the size of the performance gap, up to a per-building cap. Scaler estimates exposure using DOEE's published methodology. Rates are set by DOEE and may change — see the DOEE BEPS page for the authoritative current rate.

The setup is the same as for other Building Performance Standards:

Note on energy data: because DC BEPS is energy-based, complete and accurate consumption data drives the result directly. Emission factor configuration does not change DC BEPS compliance.