Advancing Minnesota’s Energy Codes
Building a path to high-performance and energy efficiency buildings
Minnesota has established ambitious energy efficiency and climate goals that require continual efficiency gains in both residential and commercial building energy codes. BuildUp MN works alongside regulatory and state agencies, industry professionals, and other advocates to identify cost-effective opportunities to meet these goals while considering market readiness and successful implementation methods.
BuildUp MN’s role is to help evaluate, develop, and advance code proposals that improve building performance, reduce energy use, and support Minnesota’s long-term emission reduction goals.
How we advance energy codes
BuildUp MN supports Minnesota's energy code development process through research, analysis, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration with regulatory partners. We identify and address:
- Opportunities for greatest energy savings
- Emerging technologies and best practices
- Requirements that improve building performance while remaining practical to the market
- Areas of confusion
Advancing Commercial Energy Codes
Minnesota has committed to significantly improve the efficiency of commercial buildings as part of the state's climate and energy goals. State law establishes a target of achieving an 80% improvement in commercial energy code efficiency by 2036 compared to a 2004 baseline.
To help achieve this goal, BuildUp MN works closely with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) to analyze and propose amendments to the model ASHRAE 90.1 Commercial Energy Code.
Advancing Residential Energy Codes
Residential buildings play a critical role in the future of Minnesota’s energy efficiency goals. . State law establishes a target of achieving a 70% improvement in residential energy code efficiency by 2038 compared to a 2006 baseline.
Our work helps create a roadmap for steady, measurable improvements that move Minnesota toward its statutory goals while supporting housing affordability and market adoption.
Our Guiding Principles
Ease of Market Adoption
Requirements under commercial and residential energy codes should be as easy as possible for designers and builders to implement, including products that are already easily accessible and implemented by existing workforce.
Least Cost
Requirements should have the lowest lifetime cost to implement, accounting for the initial cost and the energy savings over the lifetime of the building.
Collaborative Approach
Engage stakeholders and listen to feedback. Include all voices and experiences.
Data-driven Decisions
Decisions should be guided by data, including the best possible information on cost, market readiness, and energy savings.
Join the Discussion
Connect with the BuildUp MN team to learn more about energy code advancement efforts and opportunities to get involved.
- Share challenges and barriers to code compliance.
- Provide feedback on proposed code changes.
- Discuss market readiness and implementation concerns.
- Help shape practical solutions for future code advancement.