Building Performance Standard Summary Recommendation

Summary

Minnesota has long been a leader on pragmatic approaches to clean energy, mitigating climate change, and supporting public health. As the impacts of climate change have accelerated, the State has recently advanced its carbon goals to reach net zero emissions economy-wide by 2050. Minnesota legislators are increasingly looking for approaches to drive down emissions. As energy use from large existing buildings significantly contributes to the statewide emissions, building performance standards (BPS) could be an effective tool to lower emissions. 

To inform potential legislative BPS initiatives, CEE hosted a series of stakeholder workshops and meetings. These involved a diverse group of building owners and managers, utilities, labor, cities, state agency staff, affordable housing representatives, energy and architecture professionals, and nonprofits. This report summarizes those discussions and provides context and examples from existing BPS policies.