Best Practice Action Detail

B3 Benchmarking: 

• The Minnesota Buildings, Benchmarks and Beyond (B3) database compares each building's energy use (and dollars and GHGs), normalized by historic weather data and building use information, to previous years, and to what it would be if built and operated to current code. This allows you to determine which buildings to target for cost-saving operational changes and improvements.
• Set a goal. For example, 15% reductions (kBtu/sf/yr) in 4 years have been documented in B3 for public buildings.
• View resources for new B3 users and new B3 functionality, including a YouTube page with many short instructional videos. 
• Consider bringing on an intern or community volunteer to help with entering in energy billing information into the B3 website. For help in making arrangements, contact your regional CERTs coordinator.
• In 2019, the SW CERTs coordinator did a time study and found that total learning, set-up time and data entry for 2 years of data for one building took 7 hours (additional buildings took much less time) and regular upkeep, reports and analysis took staff about 5 hours annually.
• Note that B3 can import ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager data either as a one-time process or on an ongoing basis.
• Note that some utility bills may be automatically updated into a B3 account. Contact your CERTs Regional Coordinator to find out more.

Audits: 

• Before making changes to a building, an energy audit is done at one or more (ASHRAE) levels, which range from easy/cheap to harder/costlier:
  • Level 0 - Benchmarking (using historic energy data through B3 Benchmarking or other tools)
  • Level 1 - Walk-through Audit
  • Level 2 - Detailed/General
  • Level 3 - Investment Grade Audit (IGA)
• The Minnesota Retiree Environmental Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) employs skilled, retired professionals to provide facility assessments to small businesses, institutions, and governments in Minnesota. The no-cost, non-regulatory assessments include on-site visits from RETAP members to find ways to increase energy efficiency and water conservation, and reduce waste and operating costs.
• For communities with larger, energy intensive facilities (such as wastewater treatment facilities, ice arenas, sports complexes, transportation garages, etc.), the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) offers no-cost, non-regulatory on-site assessments for reducing waste and energy.
• Your utility may provide options for no/low-cost energy audits.
• There are other building audit resources for residents and businesses under BPA 2.3.