Energy evaluation

An energy evaluation can help you reduce energy costs and consumption.

Overview

Designed for low-performing buildings (those with an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or less), an energy evaluation:

Analyzes a building's performance
Identifies opportunities to improve overall energy efficiency
Can help reduce both energy costs and consumption

What to know

We review buildings by size group every five years.
Evaluations are valid for five years.
When free energy evaluation options are not available, we do not enforce the requirement.

Step 1

Find out if your building is eligible

We maintain a list of buildings that are eligible for an energy evaluation.

See eligible buildings list

Step 2

Choose one of four ways to comply

Performance

Earn an ENERGY STAR score in the top 75% of scores in the city, which includes:

Properties with scores of 75 and higher
If no score is available, achieve an Energy Use Intensity (EUI) rating in the bottom 75% of those in the city

Certification

Achieve a qualifying green building certification within past three years. These include ENERGY STAR, LEED Gold or Platinum, Minnesota B3 and others upon review.

Progress

Achieve a 20% or greater reduction in weather-normalized energy use intensity:

Over five years
With an initial baseline year of 2020

Evaluation

Provide proof of an energy evaluation within the past five years.

The evaluation must either:

Meet American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Level 1 standards definition
Be an accepted tune-up or recommissioning as established by the Minneapolis Health Commissioner or their designee

Visit ASHRAE

Step 3

Submit report

After you get an energy evaluation, you must submit the evaluation report.

Submit report

Green Cost Share program

We encourage you to apply for the Green Cost Share program, which:

Provides matching funds from the City (25% match, up to $50,000)
Funds energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in your building
Gives priority to buildings that participate in the Energy Benchmarking program

Read about the Green Cost Share program

City grants

Minneapolis Green Cost Share Program

When you're done benchmarking your building, we encourage you to apply for our Green Cost Share Program.
The Green Cost Sharing Program offers funds to all buildings that want to improve energy efficiency or install renewal energy.
We give priority to buildings participating in the Energy Benchmarking program. Funds are limited.

Apply for the Green Cost Share Program

Utility programs

Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy offers rebates for qualifying electricity-saving projects such as lighting retrofits and electric equipment upgrades. See Xcel Energy programs

CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint Energy offers rebates for qualifying natural gas-saving projects such as heating and hot water equipment upgrades. See CenterPoint Energy rebate programs

CenterPoint Energy also reimburses customers for the cost of the ENERGY STAR application verification up to a maximum of $1,500 per building.

Read about ENERGY STAR verification