Decoding the New Minnesota Energy Code: Part I

Kraus-Anderson construction professionals, architects and engineering firms learned about the 2015 Minnesota State Building Code through energy-code training developed by MEP Systems Coordinator Matt Stringfellow.

Stringfellow presented the AIA-accredited course at the Duluth Building Green Conference on September 14 and the Minnesota Educational Facilities Management Professionals Association 2016 Fall Conference in St. Cloud on September 29.

How Did You Become Involved in Energy-Code Training?

Matt Stringfellow: One of my responsibilities is teaching classes related to mechanical and electrical building systems through KA University, the company’s continuing-education program.

Project managers were hearing conflicting information about the new 2015 Minnesota Energy Code on their projects. I researched the code and developed a high-level overview to explain its requirements and help project teams understand how to meet them on a typical construction project.

What Is the Training Format?

Stringfellow: The course is streamlined. It is a one-hour, outline-based review of the major sections of the new code, designed to help participants become more comfortable understanding and using it.

The training includes a side-by-side comparison of requirements for two prescriptive-path options, helping participants determine which compliance path may best suit a project.

An important part of the code is that each design team must select one of several available compliance paths. That requirement has been a source of concern and confusion for many design professionals.

Why Did the Energy Code Change?

Stringfellow: The Minnesota State Legislature periodically updates building-code requirements, including energy-code requirements, through legislative action. Published building codes are updated regularly to reflect changes in laws, technology and design and construction practices.

How Different Is the New Code?

Stringfellow: The U.S. Department of Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers to develop advanced commercial standards. The agreement included a goal that the 90.1-2010 version of the ASHRAE Standard would produce 30% energy savings compared with the 2004 version.

The Department of Energy evaluated 16 prototype building models using EnergyPlus energy-simulation software. The results indicated that the 90.1-2010 Standard could provide an average 30% increase in energy savings compared with the 90.1-2004 Standard.

Based on the study’s assumptions and ideal conditions, a more reasonable expectation for a typical building meeting the new energy code may be an average 20% increase in energy savings compared with the previous code.

What Concerns Did the New Energy Code Create?

Stringfellow: The most significant concern is that the 2015 Minnesota Energy Code outlines four major compliance paths, with additional subpaths in some areas. The design team must select a path for its building project, but the code does not indicate which path may be most appropriate for a particular building type.

Once a path is selected, the project must meet all requirements within that path. The code also requires certain compliance items to be verified, approved or submitted to the local code authority.

It will be important to see how local municipalities enforce and verify compliance because the code places greater responsibility on local code authorities.

Each project design team should meet with the local code authority at the beginning of the project to discuss its selected compliance path and confirm what documentation and verification will be required. This early coordination can help avoid surprises when the project seeks a certificate of occupancy.

Learn more about MEP systems coordination, Minnesota’s energy-code requirements, sustainability services and mechanical, electrical and plumbing services.

For current energy-code information, visit the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s building codes and standards resources.