(UPDATED 2.27.25) Spring and summer are the busiest seasons for building benchmarking deadlines across the country. New locations are adding requirements all the time, including here in Minnesota. While several Minnesota cities have previously required energy use data benchmarking disclosures from municipal and other large buildings (including St. Paul, Minneapolis, Edina, and others), the State of Minnesota has now launched its Large Building Energy Benchmarking Program.

Rolled out over the next two years, the new law will eventually cover all buildings 50,000 square feet and above in all of the state’s large metro areas. Minnesota will require large building owners to both upload utility data to the federal ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and submit a report through the state’s Benchmarking Portal.

The program will apply to buildings in: 

• Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington Counties 

• Cities of Duluth, Rochester, and St. Cloud 

Properties covered by this program: 

• Class 1 properties (100,000 sq ft and above) in the above locations must start reporting energy use data by June 1, 2025. 

• Class 2 properties (50,000 sq ft – 99,999 sq ft) in the above locations must start reporting energy use data by June 1, 2026. 

The cities of Saint Paul, Saint Louis Park, and Bloomington have already discontinued their municipal requirements to make way for the new state law. Other changes will certainly come over time, but with 15 years of experience, EnergyPrint understands the complexities of benchmarking. We are watching these new developments closely and can help you navigate these regulations to ensure you’re compliant ahead of the upcoming deadlines. 

If we already handle your city benchmarking submissions, we’ll help you comply with state requirements, too. If you’re brand new to the process of building benchmarking, reach out to your CSM or contact us to talk about taking advantage of our expertise. And be sure to check back here for updates.

It’s not just Minnesota, EnergyPrint will help you submit benchmarking requirements all over the United States, see our complete list to see if your city or state requires you to report your utility data.

ESG creates value and equity for companies that are focused on sustainability, decarbonization, and social responsibility.

ESG, or Environmental, Social, and Governance, encompasses a set of environmental standards that companies can adopt to reduce emissions and prove their energy-saving improvements to investors.

Companies that prioritize ESG disclosures can set themselves apart from their competition and can help accelerate their long-term growth and operating efficiencies.

How does ESG create value?

ESG disclosures offer companies many benefits. Companies with a strong corporate culture and social equity outperform the market and attract investors, delivering a higher valuation.

A solid ESG strategy creates competitive advantage, lowers investment risk, and delivers societal benefits that matter to investors and employees. Publishing a sustainable business plan and reporting on progress will attract investor dollars, avoid problems with government compliance, and more.

1. Attract Investor Capital

Having a long-term strategic emissions plan is a necessity if you’re looking to attract investors who favor companies that set ESG goals and disclose improvements. A growing segment of investors screen companies according to their energy policies and commitment to net zero operations.

Companies today need to be able to prove their energy usage and improvement efforts. This includes benchmarking, tracking changes over time, and providing real data that can demonstrate a positive ROI.

Investors are more likely to buy into a company that can present accurate data on the impact of previous energy improvements, along with a plan for future decarbonization efforts.

Investors will believe in your vision and trust your projections if you can tell your story with actionable data.

2. Get Ahead of Future Legal and Regulatory Guidelines

While there are currently no standard, comprehensive ESG reporting regulations across the entire United States, the regulatory environment for climate and sustainability disclosures has seen significant developments.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted its final rule on the Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors in March 2024. This rule was a landmark effort to standardize disclosures.

ESG planning and compliance with the SEC allows you to be prepared now so you aren’t faced with red-tape issues in the future. A sustainable business model put in place today can help you avoid future operating disruptions that can occur when reacting to changes in energy availability, industry regulations, and investor demands.

Accurate reporting is a crucial part of achieving future government compliance. Ensure that you’re prepared with audit-ready data now by incorporating ESG software into your current technology stack.

3. Higher Productivity and Lower Operating Costs

Investors are attracted by candid, accurate ESG reporting for a good reason. Companies with a strong commitment to improving their ESG score produce higher earnings and less investment risk.

When a company is focused on its emission output, it will naturally discover, optimize, and reduce energy consumption. This will result in higher efficiency and lower operating costs.

With operations being optimized, employee pride results in a more productive and efficient workforce.

4. Establish Your Business as a Sustainable Company

ESG creates value for your company by establishing your business as a sustainable company. A corporate culture centered on creating a low-carbon future encourages the community to stand behind your vision and efforts.

Society as a whole is aware of industrial and commercial building impacts on the environment. Buildings emit 40% of man’s greenhouse gas emissions. The public cares about what companies are doing to minimize these impacts and will often make decisions based on a company’s sustainability.

Companies with a strong energy and carbon reduction commitment can also expect to attract and retain top talent in the workforce. Employees will be more committed and engaged knowing they are a part of a rewarding and equitable work environment.

5. Calculate ROI on Emissions Improvements

Reducing carbon emissions is not enough on its own. Companies need to be able to prove the ROI of their energy improvement upgrades with accurate data so they can financially justify the investment in their upgrades.

ESG Software can help a company create value by setting ESG benchmarks, normalizing for weather conditions, and tracking emissions improvements over time to report ROI to investors and justify additional capital that will be repaid through lower utility expenses.

In addition to determining financial ROI, proper ESG reporting can project a carbon reduction commitment to the government and public which helps build a deeper level of equity.

6. Reduced Energy Footprint

Lowering carbon emissions is a natural part of reducing your overall energy footprint.

A focus on ESG strategy not only saves your company time and money, it also supports your commitment to clean operations, decreased carbon emissions, and net zero goals.

Accurately tracking energy usage is even more important when reporting on Scopes 1, 2, and 3 carbon emissions. One building’s data can be handled on a spreadsheet; whereas a portfolio is much easier to manage with ESG software.

Once you develop ESG benchmarks, you have a clear path to create and track measurable goals to reduce your energy usage and have insight into how quickly you’re achieving these goals.

7. Establish Your Business as an Energy Leader of the Future

Innovative leaders don’t just follow business trends, they take an active role in molding the future of their industry. While carbon emission reductions and net zero goals aren’t new, official ESG standards are not yet established.

Getting started early with ESG compliance projects projects your role as a leader. It builds brand equity.

Creating a company culture that includes a focus on decarbonization that’s supported with data is stronger than one forced to play catch up with upcoming regulations.

How can ESG Software create value for your company?

ESG is an ongoing disclosure that requires you to set achievable goals and continually monitor and improve your energy efficiency. Additionally, you need to be ready at all times for an audit with accurate data you can trust.

EnergyPrint ESG software provides you with all the actionable insights you need to put your company at the forefront of net zero energy emissions and position yourself in prime position for investor buy-in. If you’re ready to make an ESG investment decision, schedule a call to learn more about EnergyPrint’s ESG data software and how it can help you prove yourself as a sustainable company to the government, investors, and the public.