How Lerch Bates Supports Compliance with the Minnesota Commercial Energy Code

What is the Minnesota Commercial Energy Code?

The Minnesota Commercial Energy Code was introduced to boost energy efficiency and sustainability in the state’s commercial buildings. Here’s why it matters:

1. Energy Conservation: The code sets standards to cut energy use, lowering bills and reducing reliance on non-renewable sources.
2. Environmental Impact: By promoting energy-efficient practices, it helps shrink greenhouse gas emissions and environmental harm.
3. Cost Savings: Compliance means lower operating costs and potential incentives, like rebates or tax credits.
4. Indoor Comfort: Energy-efficient features ensure consistent temperatures and better air quality for occupants, enhancing comfort and productivity.
5. Legal Compliance: The code aligns with state and national goals for energy efficiency and environmental responsibility, ensuring new buildings meet regulations.

Building Envelope Consulting

In adherence to the Minnesota Commercial Energy Code, these consultants are pivotal in aiding commercial building owners and developers in meeting energy efficiency requirements. Here’s how they assist with compliance:

• Insulation Evaluation: Consultants assess insulation levels in walls, roofs, and floors to meet or surpass the energy code’s minimum requirements.
• Air Tightness Testing: Through blower door tests, they measure air tightness to identify and rectify areas of air leakage, reducing energy loss.
• Window and Glazing Assessment: Consultants evaluate window and glazing systems to ensure compliance with the code’s standards for U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), and visible transmittance.
• Thermal Bridging Mitigation: They detect and address thermal bridging issues, which hinder energy efficiency by allowing heat to flow through the envelope.
• Moisture Control: Consultants analyze moisture control measures to prevent infiltration and condensation, enhancing energy performance and indoor air quality.
• Envelope Design Collaboration: Working with architects and engineers, they optimize envelope design for improved energy efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness.

When selecting a consultant for Minnesota Commercial Energy Code compliance, prioritize professionals with expertise in energy-efficient building design, construction, and diagnostics. Familiarity with local building codes and climate conditions ensures tailored recommendations for optimal envelope performance, meeting regulatory standards.

Air Barrier Testing

Air barrier testing, mandated by the Minnesota Commercial Energy Code, is crucial for enhancing energy efficiency and indoor comfort in commercial buildings. Air barriers are components of a building envelope that control airflow and help to maintain the desired indoor environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity and air quality.

Lerch Bates’s air barrier testing team will evaluate the effectiveness of a building’s air barrier system using tools such as blower doors to simulate the pressure differences that occur across the building envelope under normal operating conditions. Our consultants then benchmark your building’s data against industry standards and performance criteria to provide valuable information about the building’s energy efficiency, indoor air quality and overall performance. If air leakage is found, or your building’s performance is not up to the Minnesota Commercial Energy Code performance standards, Lerch Bates will provide design and construction solutions to enhance building performance and ensure code compliance.

Air barrier testing is essential for verifying compliance with the Minnesota Commercial Energy Code and many other energy efficiency standards. By prioritizing air barrier testing, commercial building owners in Minnesota can demonstrate compliance with energy efficiency standards, reduce energy consumption, lower operating costs and improve indoor comfort for occupants.

Contact us today to learn more and get started!