The state of Minnesota’s Large Building Energy Benchmarking program is a statewide energy benchmarking & disclosure program requiring owners of existing buildings to report energy use annually, using ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®. Effective as of June 2025, this program provides building owners insight into their building’s energy efficiency and helps meet the state of Minnesota’s Climate Action Plan goals.
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WHAT BUILDINGS ARE COVERED UNDER MINNESOTA BENCHMARKING?
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.
WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED FOR BENCHMARKING?
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.
WHEN ARE MINNESOTA BENCHMARKING REPORTS DUE?
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.
WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES IF YOU DON'T COMPLY WITH MINNESOTA BENCHMARKING?
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.
HOW DO I COMPLY WITH MINNESOTA BENCHMARKING?
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.
WHEN SHOULD I START MINNESOTA BENCHMARKING COMPLIANCE?
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.
MINNESOTA BENCHMARKING RESOURCES
Climate Policy
Minnesota Climate Action Framework
Bill Text
Sec. 216C.331
Ordinance Homepage
Minnesota Large Building Energy Benchmarking
VCA GREEN PROCESS
With every phase of the process, VCA Green’s experienced and knowledgeable team is here to guide you on the results, options, and path forward to meet your compliance goals.
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