Minnesota has four cities with local benchmarking ordinances that affects privately-owned buildings. Click here to see how Minnesota handles energy efficiency in state- and publicly-owned buildings.
Edina, MN
On June 4, 2019, Edina became the second city in Minnesota to require buildings larger than 25,000 square feet to benchmark their building energy data.
Title: An Ordinance Amending Chapter 20 of the Edina City Code Concerning Large Building Benchmarking
Date Passed: June 4, 2019
Policy Language: Ordinance 2019-10
For assistance: Contact Tara Brown at tbrown@edinaMN.gov
Summary:
Edina, Minnesota joined the ranks of some of the most sustainability-conscious cities in the Midwest when the city Council adopted a new benchmarking ordinance on June 4, 2019. The ordinance will require all commercial and multifamily buildings larger than 25,000 square feet to report their energy and water usage to the city. Currently, large buildings in Edina account for 60% of energy usage and this initiative will aid in the city’s goal of reducing their greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050.
| Compliance Deadline | Type of Building | Building Size Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| June 1, 2020 and each June thereafter | Commercial | All Class 1 (100,000+ square feet) and Class 2 (50,000 – 99,999 square feet) buildings |
| June 1, 2021 and each June thereafter | Commercial | All Class 3 (25,000 – 49,999 square feet) buildings |
Minneapolis, MN
On February 8, 2013, Minneapolis became the first municipality in the Midwest to successfully pass an ordinance which engages building owners to improve their energy management practices.
Title: Minneapolis Building Rating and Disclosure Policy
Date Passed: February 8, 2013
Policy Language: Ordinance 47.190
Assistance: Building Energy Benchmarking Ordinance site; mplsenergystar@minneapolismn.gov
Summary:
The Minneapolis Building Rating and Disclosure Policy requires commercial buildings 50,000 square feet and larger and city-owned buildings 25,000 square feet and larger to annually benchmark their energy consumption through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. According to the city, “This ordinance will allow building owners and the City to track energy and water usage year to year to determine opportunities for improvement, recognize high performers, and determine progress towards the City's Climate Action Plan goals.” The ordinance also requires annual reports of benchmarking results released to the public. Commercial buildings over 50,000 square feet represent over 70% of the total commercial square footage in Minneapolis.
| Compliance Deadline | Type of Building | Building Size Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| June 1, 2014, and each June 1 thereafter | Municipal | 25,000 square feet and larger |
| June 1, 2015, and each June 1 thereafter | Commercial | 100,000 square feet and larger |
| June 1, 2016, and each June 1 thereafter | Commercial | 50,000 square feet and larger |
St. Louis Park, MN
In December 2019, the city council passed the Efficient Building Benchmarking ordinance to support the Climate Action Plan’s midterm goal of reducing energy consumption in large commercial buildings 30 percent by 2030.
Title: St. Louis Park Efficient Building Benchmarking Ordinance
Date Passed: December 12, 2019
Policy Language: Ord. No. 2576-19, 12-2-19
For assistance: Contact Emily Ziring at eziring@stlouispark.org
Summary:
St. Louis Park, a western suburb of Minneapolis, became the 3rd municipality in Minnesota to require tracking of energy and water consumption of privately-owned buildings when the city Council adopted a new benchmarking ordinance on December 12, 2019. The ordinance requires commercial, multifamily and public buildings over 25,000 square feet to report annual whole-building energy and water use. While the approximately 275 buildings affected represent less than 2 percent of St. Louis Park’s total building count, the ordinance will create benchmarks for approximately 52 percent of the total building square footage in the city.
| Compliance Deadline | Type of Building | Building Size Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| June 1, 2020 and each June thereafter | Commercial, multifamily, and public | All buildings over 25,000 square feet |
St. Paul, MN
On January 21, 2020, St. Paul became the fourth city in Minnesota to pass an energy benchmarking ordinance.
Title: St. Paul Energy Benchmarking Ordinance
Date Passed: January 21, 2020
Policy Language: Ord. No. 2576-19, 12-2-19
For assistance: Contact Molly Smith at molly.smith@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Summary:
The City of Saint Paul's Energy Benchmarking Ordinance requires that owners of multi-family and commercial properties 50,000 square feet and larger must benchmark their energy and water usage. The ordinance allows building owners to disclose all or partial data to the public; those that disclose all data are eligible for technical assistance and prizes. In Saint Paul, commercial and residential buildings are responsible for 62% of citywide greenhouse gas emissions. This represents a significant opportunity for energy and cost savings, as it is estimated that the average commercial building wastes 30% of its energy consumption due to inefficiencies.
| Compliance Deadline | Type of Building | Building Size Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| June 1, 2020 | Commercial and multifamily | All buildings 100,000 square feet and larger |
| June 1, 2021 and each June thereafter | Commercial and multifamily | All buildings 50,000 square feet and larger |