Covered Buildings

Commercial and residential buildings 25,000 to 49,999 Sq. Ft.

Note: Buildings in Edina that are 50,000 Sq. Ft. or larger must comply with the State’s benchmarking ordinance.

Annual benchmarking reporting requires 12 calendar months of whole-building energy, water, and building use data. For example, in 2025, building owners must report 12 months of 2024 data.

June 1, annually. Benchmarking reports must be submitted on an annual basis using the previous year’s data via ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®. This is the EPA’s benchmarking tool that is used for compliance reporting in most ordinances across the country.

Building Performance Standards (BPS) are often considered Phase II of these building energy use ordinances. After reporting your benchmarking data, many ordinances require you to make changes to the building’s operations or equipment to lower energy use over time.

Edina requires covered properties that show “energy improvement potential” to conduct an energy assessment in five year intervals.

Energy assessments for low-performing buildings (as deemed by the City) were required to conduct an energy assessment by December 1, 2024. Low-performing buildings are required to provide proof of the assessment every fifth December 1 thereafter.

Failure to comply with Edina’s Efficient Buildings Ordinance will result in a $1,000 civil penalty.

CONTACT US HERE to learn more and get started with compliance.

Edina Efficient Buildings Ordinance compliance can be confusing and hard to navigate. Bringing on a consultant like VCA Green streamlines the entire process while ensuring accurate reporting. We also offer free consultations with our benchmarking clients to review the reports and identify inefficiencies to improve.

Ordinances such as Edina Efficient Buildings Ordinance are already in effect across the country, and deadlines are rapidly approaching. Retrieving historical building data will take time, especially when coordinating with property managers and utilities.

Waiting until the last minute risks missing compliance windows resulting in fines and enforcement penalties. VCA Green takes every measure to ensure complete and accurate data collection. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you will reach compliance.

Property Size

Buildings 50,000 Sq. Ft. or larger that are served by an investor-owned utility in the following counties:

• Anoka County
• Carver County
• Dakota County
• Hennepin County
• Ramsey County
• Scott County
• Washington County

Buildings 50,000 Sq. Ft. or larger 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.

Annual benchmarking reporting requires 12 calendar months of whole-building energy and building use data. For example, in 2025, building owners must report 12 months of 2024 data.

June 1, annually. Buildings 100,000 Sq. Ft. or larger began reporting in 2025. Buildings 50,000 Sq. Ft. or larger begin in 2026.

Benchmarking reports must be submitted on an annual basis using the previous year’s data via ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®. This is the EPA’s benchmarking tool that is used for compliance reporting in most ordinances across the country.

Failure to comply with the Minnesota Benchmarking program will result in a $1,000 fine to the building owner. You may apply for a deadline extension to August 15.

CONTACT US HERE to learn more and get started with compliance.

Minnesota Benchmarking compliance can be confusing and hard to navigate. Bringing on a consultant like VCA Green streamlines the entire process while ensuring accurate reporting. We also offer free consultations with our benchmarking clients to review the reports and identify inefficiencies to improve.

Ordinances such as the Minnesota Large Building Energy Benchmarking program are already in effect across the country, and deadlines are rapidly approaching. Retrieving historical building data will take time, especially when coordinating with property managers and utilities.

Waiting until the last minute risks missing compliance windows resulting in fines and enforcement penalties. VCA Green takes every measure to ensure complete and accurate data collection. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you will reach compliance.

Property Size

Commercial buildings and residential buildings 50,000 Sq. Ft. or larger.

Annual benchmarking reporting requires 12 calendar months of whole-building energy, water, and building use data. For example, in 2025, building owners must report 12 months of 2024 data.

June 1, annually. Benchmarking reports must be submitted on an annual basis using the previous year’s data via ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®. This is the EPA’s benchmarking tool that is used for compliance reporting in most ordinances across the country.

Building Performance Standards (BPS) are often considered Phase II of these building energy use ordinances. After reporting your benchmarking data, many ordinances require you to make changes to the building’s operations or equipment to lower energy use over time.

Minneapolis requires low performing buildings (ENERGY STAR score of less than 75 or is on the city’s low performing building list) to conduct an ASHRAE Level I Audit or perform a tune-up to base building systems every 5 years.

Energy evaluations must be submitted by low performing buildings by June 1. Once conducted, they are good for 5 years.

Missing the June 1 deadline will result in a $200 fine and two weeks to submit the data or get an extension. If you miss the two week deadline, the fine will be doubled and this process will repeat up to 4 times.

Any unpaid fines will be added to the building’s property taxes.

CONTACT US HERE to learn more and get started with compliance.

Minneapolis Benchmarking compliance can be confusing and hard to navigate. Bringing on a consultant like VCA Green streamlines the entire process while ensuring accurate reporting. We also offer free consultations with our benchmarking clients to review the reports and identify inefficiencies to improve.

Ordinances such as Minneapolis Benchmarking are already in effect across the country, and deadlines are rapidly approaching. Retrieving historical building data will take time, especially when coordinating with property managers and utilities.

Waiting until the last minute risks missing compliance windows resulting in fines and enforcement penalties. VCA Green takes every measure to ensure complete and accurate data collection. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you will reach compliance.