FAQs
What is a building standard?
Building standards have been around for centuries. They ensure the safety and health of its occupants like requiring fire exits and making sure hvac systems cycle fresh air throughout. Energy building standards require certain efficiencies to ensure minimal environmental impact on top of keeping utility costs down and comfortable buildings.
Why do our communities want better building standards?
Making buildings more energy efficient creates local jobs, saves money on energy bills, and reduces pollution resulting in cleaner air and healthier citizens. Local leaders across Minnesota are realizing the potential of energy efficiency to improve the quality of life for the people of their community and want to take an extra step forward toward more efficient buildings in their city.
What do Minnesotans think about improving building standards?
In June of 2020, ALG Research conducted a statewide poll to gauge Minnesotans’ opinion on adopting better energy efficiency standards for commercial buildings.
Overall – people supported the concepts behind the measure…
- 81% said they were in favor of requiring all new or gut-renovated multi-unit buildings to be more energy efficient.
- 79% favored a new statewide standard to ensure buildings are more energy-efficient.
- 65% favored requiring all new commercial buildings and larger apartment buildings to produce as much energy as they consume by taking steps such as installing solar panels by 2036.
Minnesotans also understand the potential for positive impact. A majority of poll respondents said that adopting better efficiency standards for commercial buildings would have a positive impact on the safety of our air and water (80%), the health of Minnesota residents (76%), climate change (69%), jobs (62%), and Minnesota’s economy (54%).
Won’t higher standards raise housing costs?
No. It is important to remember that these new building standards would NOT be applied to single family homes – only to commercial and multifamily buildings that exceed three stories. Updating commercial building standards will not raise the cost of building new homes and will save building owners and renters money on long-term energy costs.
There is a lot of uncertainty in our economy at the moment. Is it the right time to raise standards for new commercial buildings?
Yes. The economic benefits of energy efficient buildings, including lower energy bills and reduced medical costs associated with air pollution, far outweigh the cost of adding efficiency upgrades to new buildings. These benefits will particularly support low-income communities and communities of color that have been disproportionately affected by the economic downturn and pollution in our air.
In fact – raising standards for new commercial buildings will create an estimated 2,500 new construction jobs every year that can’t be outsourced.
How will better building standards reduce costs for renters and building owners in Minnesota?
Better buildings require higher efficiency equipment in our indoor spaces. This means we’re using less energy to heat or cool our buildings and spending less on utility bills. Utility costs make up 1.60% of annual expenses on average for Minnesotans.
How will better building standards keep Minnesota buildings warmer in the winter?
Better buildings require higher insulation and tighter envelopes so it’s not as drafty. This means warm air stays inside longer and cold air doesn’t get inside as often.
How will better building standards make our air cleaner in Minnesota?
Because of our cold winters, Minnesota consumes more natural gas than any other fuel source. Burning natural gas emits a number of emissions that decrease local air quality including particulate matter (PM 2.5). By using higher efficiency equipment we will be running our furnaces less and contributing fewer emissions to our local air shed.
