Best of B3 Recognition 2018

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 25, 2018, the fourth 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 City of Mankato Transit Facility minimized negative impacts by reusing an existing building and using locally sourced and recycled materials in addition to a modular precast concrete wall panel system to utilize product efficiencies and reduce waste.

Best of Sustainable Buildings 2030: Also winning the SB 2030 award, the City of Mankato Transit Facility used strategies like high-efficiency boilers, exhaust energy recovery, daylighting, and rooftop photovoltaics to use a predicted 39% less energy per square foot than its SB 2030 Standard.

Best of B3 Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) – Workplace: The UMTC Recreation and Wellness Center Expansion uses a four-story atrium along with a large open stair to bring natural light deep into the building and promote physical activity, achieving an IEQ Satisfaction Score of 5.53 (on a scale from 1 to 7) based on employee responses to a post-occupancy survey regarding their workspace.

Photo: Timothy Hursley

Best of B3 Benchmarking – City: The City of Morris tracks energy use for 21 buildings and over 44,000 sf. Through an organization they created called the Morris Model, the City has been exploring ways to become more energy efficient. In 2017, the City achieved an energy use intensity that is 15% lower than the code-based benchmark, a 10% reduction from the previous year.

Best of B3 Benchmarking – Higher Education: Riverland Community College, Owatonna tracks energy use for 3 buildings and nearly 30,000 sf. Through engagement in a Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance (GESP) program, the campus achieved an energy use intensity that is 40% lower than the code-based benchmark, a 9% reduction from the previous year.

Best of B3 Benchmarking – Public Schools: School District 197 West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools tracks energy use for eight buildings and nearly 960,000 sf. Leveraging strategic equipment scheduling through their building automation system, the District achieved an energy use intensity that is 40% lower than the code-based benchmark, a 5% reduction from the previous year.

Best of B3 Benchmarking – State Agency: Minnesota State Academies tracks energy use for 19 buildings and over 400,000 sf. Using their building automation system to control schedules and monitor equipment vitals, the organization achieved an energy use intensity that is 21% lower than the code-based benchmark, a 9% reduction from the previous year.