Agenda - Council - 02/08/2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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standard, creates an optional tier of additional energy efficiency requirements for buildings in those categories if they exceed a designated square footage. Such an addendum would be state -developed and cities could choose whether to apply it in their jurisdictions based on community priorities, opportunity, and readiness. An advanced energy building standard would allow municipalities to require more energy efficient buildings, reducing the energy burden for building occupants and lowering overall greenhouse gas emissions. Having a uniform set of standards prevents confusion by developers, designers, planners, and regulators, with people only needing to know if the jurisdiction uses the requirements outlined in existing State Building Code or has adopted the added energy section. Discussions with developers, architects, engineers, city staff, energy efficiency experts, utility interests, labor, state agencies, academia, and other stakeholders have examined approaches the state could use to create and allow an advanced energy building standard. While several different versions could work, it is clear that Minnesota needs to change its approach in order to meet state energy efficiency goals. Additionally, utilities across the region have extensive requirements and goals related to reducing energy consumption and increasing power generation from renewable resources. For advanced energy building standards to be an effective tool, they will need to be designed to work in cooperation with those existing programs. Response: The legislature should require the Department of Labor and Industry to establish an advanced energy building standard beyond the base statewide commercial code for the construction, reconstruction, and alteration of public 32 and private commercial and multifamily residential buildings that exceed a certain square footage as an appendix of the State Building Code. These standards should conform to timelines and performance measures that result in net zero carbon emissions by 2036 or sooner and should be updated every three to five years. Cities should be provided the authority to adopt the advanced energy standard by ordinance at their discretion, making it an official addendum to the baseline energy code in any jurisdiction adopting them. The League recognizes the benefits of a consistent state code and supports a requirement that a local jurisdiction adopting the standards in the appendix may not amend them, but may specify the minimum size structure to which they apply, as long as it is 10,000 or more square feet. SD-29. Construction Codes Issue: The State Building Code (SBC) is the statewide standard for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, and repair of the buildings and other structures of the type governed by the code. A building code provides many benefits, including uniformity of construction standards in the building industry, consistency in code interpretation and enforcement, and life - safety guidance. Since 2018, the state will adopt a new version of the SBC every six years after a rulemaking process that allows for significant public input. The League supports adopting and amending the SBC through the rulemaking process, and opposes legislative changes to the building codes absent unusual or extraordinary circumstances.