Best of B3 Recognition 2016
The State of Minnesota is leading the nation in requiring 70% more energy efficient State buildings in an effort to have all State construction carbon neutral by 2030. Designed to increase energy efficiency and sustainability, the State of Minnesota’s Buildings, Benchmarks, and Beyond (B3) programs were developed for and are required on State-funded projects in Minnesota. On October 26, 2016, the second annual Best of B3 Recognition Luncheon was held at International Market Square in Minneapolis to recognize the achievements of B3 program participants. The winners in each category were selected by a committee made up of staff from the CSBR and the Departments of Administration and Commerce.
Best of B3 Design: The UMC Wellness Center excelled at using the B3 Guidelines to set and meet sustainability goals, resulting in a more efficient and higher value project. One notable feature is a façade design that uses fritted glazing to balance natural daylighting, outdoor views, thermal performance, and bird-safe design.
Best of Sustainable Buildings 2030: An engaged design and owner team for Kendall’s Hardware achieved a design energy use intensity of 42 kBtu/sf by reducing the new building’s window to wall ratio, selecting high-performing windows, designing exterior walls with a high R-value, and using energy recovery ventilation.
Best of B3 Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) – Classrooms: The newly constructed Itasca Community College – Liberal Arts Building achieved an IEQ Satisfaction score of 5.68 (on a scale from 1 to 7) based on student responses to a post-occupancy survey regarding their classroom space. The students also reported that both the classrooms and the overall facility enhances their learning experience and health.
Best of B3 Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) – Workplace Washburn Center for Children achieved an IEQ Satisfaction score of 5.80 (on a scale from 1 to 7) based on employee responses to a post-occupancy survey regarding their primary workplace. Employees were especially satisfied with their daylighting and view conditions, reflecting the design team’s effort to enable 96% of regularly occupied spaces to be illuminated by daylight, and 92% of regularly occupied spaces to have views to the outside.
Best of B3 Benchmarking – City: City of Newport tracks the energy use of 5 buildings that total 25,665sf. Through energy-efficient equipment replacement in several of their buildings, they were able to achieve an energy use intensity (kBtu/sf) that is 52% lower than the code-based benchmark, a 24% reduction from the previous year.
Best of B3 Benchmarking – County: Renville County tracks the energy use of 12 buildings that total 151,982sf. Through strategic replacement of mechanical equipment, light fixtures, and control systems, they were able to reduce the ratio between their energy consumption and their code-based energy benchmark by 18% from the previous year.
Best of B3 Benchmarking – Higher Education: North Hennepin Community College tracks the energy use of 22 buildings that total 490,064sf. Through a year-long manual optimization of the temperature and pressure settings on the campus’ steam boilers, they were able to achieve an energy use intensity (kBtu/sf) that is 56% lower than the code-based benchmark, a 33% reduction from the previous year.
Best of B3 Benchmarking – Public Schools: The Ada-Borup School District tracks the energy use of 3 buildings that total 170,556sf. By setting controls to ensure that lighting, heating, and equipment are only used when needed, they were able to achieve an energy use intensity (kBtu/sf) that is 49% lower than the code-based benchmark, a 24% reduction from the previous year.
Best of B3 Benchmarking – State Agency (tie): The Department of Transportation tracks the energy use of 864 buildings that total 5,979,039sf. By improving building control sequences and equipment scheduling and replacing inefficient mechanical and lighting equipment, they were able to achieve an energy use intensity (kBtu/sf) that is 30% lower than the code-based benchmark, a 17% reduction from the previous year.
Best of B3 Benchmarking – State Agency (tie): The Department of Military Affairs tracks the energy use of 251 buildings that total 5,122,850sf. By creating a culture that recognizes the value of sustainability and instituting an inspection program with an audit checklist, they were able to achieve an energy use intensity (kBtu/sf) that is 31% lower than the code-based benchmark, a 17% reduction from the previous year.
Best of B3 Leadership – Organization: The Department of Administration has 21 projects using the B3 Guidelines. In addition to showing timely submissions, limited use of variances, and high performance across this portfolio of projects, the agency has created a new Office of Enterprise Sustainability to reduce the carbon footprint of the state government, leverage industry expertise and best practices, and increase accountability in sustainable operations.
Best of B3 Leadership – Individual: Janet Streff was recognized for her visionary role in creating the B3 and SB 2030 programs. Janet’s exceptional stewardship and navigation of policy and politics provided the longevity needed for these innovative ideas to evolve into world class programs that have transformed the building industry in Minnesota.
Other Years
Finalist Selection Process
The Best of B3 awards are given to organizations and projects that have shown leadership in improving their sustainability through their participation in the B3 programs.
Nominations for the Best of B3 Design and Best of SB 2030 projects were solicited and finalists were selected from submitted applicants based on the strength of their submission and on data collected through the B3 Guidelines Tracking Tool.
Best of B3 Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) finalists were selected based on their performance in the Sustainable Post-Occupancy Evaluation process.
The Best of B3 Benchmarking finalists were based on year over year improvement in their benchmark ratio, an indication of improved energy efficiency compared to code-based benchmarks.
The Best of B3 Leadership–Organization is given to an agency or organization that demonstrates high performance in the B3 program across a portfolio of projects, and shows a commitment to the advancement of sustainable design and operations. Finalists are selected based upon the agency’s support of the program, timely submissions from their project teams and the limited use of variances.
The Best of B3 Leadership–Individual is awarded to someone who has demonstrated a high level of commitment to advancement and support of sustainable building design and operation in Minnesota.
Best of B3 Finalists
Finalists were recognized in each of the following Best of B3 categories:
Best of B3 Design
- DHS Saint David’s Center – Phase 2
- MnSCU Bemidji State University – Memorial Hall Renovation and Addition
- UMC Wellness Center
Best of Sustainable Buildings 2030
- DNR Glenwood Office Building
- Kendall’s Hardware
- UMTC Mechanical Engineering Remodel
Best of B3 Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) – Classrooms
- Century College – East Campus Classroom Building
- Itasca Community College – Liberal Arts Building
- MnSCU South Central College, Faribault: Classroom Renovation & Addition Project
Best of B3 Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) – Workplace
- Ridgewater College Student Center – A
- UMTC Recreation and Wellness Center
- Washburn Center for Children
Best of B3 Benchmarking – City
- City of Newport
- City of Ramsey
- City of White Bear Lake
Best of B3 Benchmarking – County
- Dakota County
- Renville County
Best of B3 Benchmarking – Higher Education
- Minnesota State College – Southeast Technical, Red Wing
- North Hennepin Community College
Best of B3 Benchmarking – Public Schools
- Ada-Borup School District
- Marshall Public Schools
- New Ulm Public Schools
Best of B3 Benchmarking – State Agency
- Department of Human Services
- Department of Transportation
- Department of Military Affairs
Best of B3 Leadership
- City of Saint Paul
- Department of Administration
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources