Program Overview
The Large Building Energy Benchmarking program is a state-wide program aimed at increasing energy efficiency, decreasing operating costs and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector. This program requires owners of large commercial and multifamily properties to submit whole-building energy usage annually to the State of Minnesota.
The goals of the Large Building Energy Benchmarking Program are to:
- Make a building's owners, tenants and potential tenants aware of (i) the building's energy consumption levels and patterns, and (ii) how the building's energy use compares with that of similar buildings and/or a reference performance level (such as a building energy code); and
- Enhance the likelihood that an owner adopts energy conservation measures in the owner's building as a way to reduce energy use, operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
The State of Minnesota has contracted with Touchstone IQ to provide database management and help desk services for the Large Building Energy Benchmarking program.
What buildings participate in this program?
Buildings that are 50,000 square feet and larger that are:
- served by an investor-owned utility in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington County, or
a building located in any city outside the metropolitan area with a population of over 50,000 residents served by a municipal energy utility or investor-owned utility.
The statute provides some exemptions from the benchmarking requirements for specific building types, including multifamily buildings with fewer than 5 units, manufacturing and agricultural buildings and other limited situations. Building owners can file exemption requests through the Portal to be reviewed by the Department of Commerce.
Upcoming events
The Department of Commerce is providing the following upcoming educational opportunities to learn about the benchmarking program and how building owners can comply.