Minneapolis Energy Benchmarking

Ordinance 47.190, also known as the Commercial Building Rating and Disclosure Ordinance, now requires large commercial buildings to annually record and disclose energy and water usage data. This information will be made public so that building owners and potential buyers can have better metrics for assessing building efficiency.

Ordinance 47.190 was adopted by the Minneapolis City Council as part of the Climate Action Plan. Over 44% of the City’s energy use is from large commercial buildings, and benchmarking energy will help identify opportunities for improvement. The City hopes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2025.

This ordinance applies to all commercial buildings larger than 50,000 square feet and all City-owned buildings larger than 25,000 square feet.

Your building may qualify for an exemption from reporting if:

• The building did not have a temporary or permanent certificate of occupancy for the given year

• A demolition permit was issued and demolition of the building has commenced

• For multifamily housing only, if electricity data aggregation isn’t available and there is no master meter

• For commercial buildings only, if electricity data aggregation isn’t available, there is no master meter, and the owner isn’t responsible for operating or maintaining equipment

• Financial hardship

• No utility services

Every June 1 for commercial buildings greater than 50,000 square feet and municipal buildings greater than 25,000 square feet.

All energy utilities including electricity, natural gas, district energy, and any other purchased fuel type used to operate your building.

Water is another utility that’s required for reporting.

There is a $200 fine and two-week submission requirement if you don’t submit your data by June 1. If you miss the two-week deadline, you’ll be fined again. The City will repeat the process up to four times. The amount of the fine doubles each time you miss the deadline and any unpaid fines will be added to your building’s property taxes.

Building owners must report their energy usage data to EPA’s Portfolio Manager, a reporting tool that allows building owners to compare their building’s energy efficiency with similar buildings.

However:

• Touchstone IQ for Buildings is a fast, easy-to-use tool that integrates directly with EPA’s Portfolio Manager

• Touchstone IQ also offers expert-led benchmarking to building owners and managers looking for streamlined compliance and cost-saving recommendations

Many benchmarking ordinances require a Building ID as part of the report submission process. If needed, you may be able to find your Building ID number here.

• Minneapolis Energy Benchmarking Program

• Minneapolis’ Commercial Building Rating and Disclosure Ordinance

Touchstone IQ for Buildings offers expert-led benchmarking and easy DIY tools for Minneapolis’ large properties. Simplify energy benchmarking compliance while gaining the tools to save money and build your energy intelligence with our exclusive software platform. Gain access to the nation's leading energy experts to ensure significant improvements in your energy usage for your commercial, multifamily, or public building. Our team has partnered with entities of all sizes to reduce their carbon footprint, reach ambitious targets, and comply with new regulations. Whether you're looking for comprehensive, step-by-step guidance to craft your energy management plan or a convenient, intuitive benchmarking solution, we've got you covered. Schedule your free personalized demo today or contact us for pricing or questions.