Single Family
5. Energy Efficiency
5.1a Efficient Energy Use, New Construction
Mandatory for new construction
Demonstrate energy efficiency by meeting or exceeding ENERGY STAR® standards, achieving a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) design score of 86, or exceeding ASHRAE 90.1 by 30 percent.
Green Communities Recommended Resources
ENERGY STAR Standards
- View web site, www.energystar.gov.
- More information about ENERGY STAR Standards.
- To find home energy rater in area call 888-STAR-YES.
HERS Energy Rating System
- View information about HERS.
ASHRAE 90.1-1999 and state codes
- More information about ASHRAE, or call 888-527-4723.
- View state codes.
Builder Option Package (BOP)
- Search BOP for any state.
- View Minnesota BOPs.
Green Communities and the Green Communities Criteria are a national initiative of Enterprise Community Partners to transform the affordable housing sector. For more information go to www.greencommunitiesonline.org.
Minnesota Overlay
The national Green Communities Criteria are modified as follows:
For each new construction proposal, all homes must demonstrate energy efficiency by meeting or exceeding gone of the following:
- Energy Star standards, including the Builder's Option Package for the appropriate climate zone in Minnesota, OR
- Home Energy Rating Systems (HERS) Index of 80.
All new construction proposals are subject to participation in an energy efficiency pilot program, as administered by Minnesota Housing, in which a representative number of units will be subject to third party verification.
Overlay Considerations
More information on the Energy Star Builder Option Package for Minnesota.
Information on the HERS Index.
Important Considerations
Codes and Regulations
Minnesota Rule 7670 covers building energy efficiency calculations.
Minnesota Rule 1322 will replace Rule 7680. It is currently available only as an internal draft.
Specifications
This criteria is applicable to many specification categories including:
07 20 00 (07200) Thermal protection 08 50 00 (08000) Windows and doors 11 31 00 (11450) Residential appliances 26 50 00 (16500) Lighting
The information above refers to the Construction Specification Institute's (CSI) MasterFormat. The numbers listed above refer to some of the most relevant but not all of the possible MasterFormat sections related to this strategy. The 6-digit numbers refer to the newer 2004 MasterFormat edition. Numbers in parenthesis refer to the older 1995 edition.
Other Resources
Publications and Links
See full list of recommended resources and links in our library.
Related Strategies
| E1a: | Optimize building placement and configuration for energy performance |
| E1b: | Optimize building envelope thermal performance |
| E1c: | Integrate daylighting with efficient electric lighting |
| E2a: | Design and install efficient mechanical systems |
| E2b: | Choose efficient appliances |
| E4: | Model and evaluate performance |
