Minnesota has a statewide benchmarking policy that affects large privately-owned buildings. Additionally, Edina and Minneapolis have their own benchmarking programs. Click here to see how Minnesota handles energy efficiency in state- and publicly-owned buildings.
Statewide Policy
Through Minnesota’s Large Building Energy Benchmarking program, buildings are required to report their energy use starting in 2025. Buildings under 100,000 square feet have an extra year to comply and must report starting in 2026. Building owners must submit their building energy use data in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and the Large Building Energy Benchmarking Portal. Benchmarking and data disclosure will allow building owners, residents and decision makers to better understand the energy use of Minnesota’s largest buildings, allowing for greater utility savings and reduced emissions.
Title: Building Energy Awareness Ordinance
Date Passed: November 11, 2023
Policy Language: Minnesota Statute 216C.331
Assistance: Minnesota Department of Commerce, support@benchmarkingMN.org
Summary:
Minnesota passed a statewide benchmarking requirement in 2024 with the first deadline set for the following year. The requirement covers buildings over 50,000 square feet that are served by an investor-owned utility in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, or are located in a Minnesota city with a population over 50,000 residents.
| Compliance Deadline | Type of Building | Building Size Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| June 1, 2025 and each June 1 thereafter | Commercial & Multifamily | 100,000 square feet and larger |
| June 1, 2026 and each June 1 thereafter | Commercial & Multifamily | 50,000 square feet and larger |
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: EBCHelp@hennepin.us or 866-614-7542
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 |