Housing First Minnesota held a virtual town hall on Aug. 13, discussing the upcoming energy code set to be implemented as part of the next residential building code update. Staff was joined by Eric Boyd, regional president of Arcxis and Housing First Minnesota’s appointee to the code review panel. This change in the residential energy code will be the first since the 2012 IECC with Minnesota amendments was implemented in 2014.

In 2024, the Legislature passed a law that requires Minnesota to adopt a new energy code every three years and to move to an increase in efficiency of 70% by 2038. This move, which CMBA and Housing First Minnesota opposed, was adopted despite Minnesota’s nation-leading energy efficiency rankings.

“Our members build the most efficient home in the country on volume,” said Nick Erickson, senior director of housing policy. “We can only deliver affordability if DLI protects the performance path; as it stands today, the new code will price out up to more than 37,000 prospective buyers and push our state-to-state cost gap even higher.”

Boyd listed a plethora of changes that members can expect in the new energy code, including:

• Address Specific Manual JDS
  • No more block load calculations will be allowed
  • Needs to be room by room
• Continuous R5 Insulation or equivalent Total UA
• Lower U value on Windows
  • The state approved a code change to shift all windows to 0.27 U-factor (instead of 0.28 in Climate Zone 6and 0.27 in Climate Zone 7)
• Automatic Lighting Controls
• More Foundation insulation with the removal of the 2.6 ACH exception
• Lower Blower Door Targets with sampling is allowed in buildings with 8 or more units
• Duct Leakage Testing Required on all homes, based on square footage and number of returns
• Heavily Modified ERI Performance Path with the TAG approving a proposal that eliminates most cost savings
  • Additional Energy Efficiency Credits when following the Prescriptive Path
• The TAG narrowly voted to remove the Simulated Building Performance alternative
• Dedicated make-up air for water heaters
• Cost Increase estimates of $7,000 – $14,000 (depending on home and foundation type)

Housing First and CMBA continue to advocate for affordability in the energy code, and are keeping members updated as the ruling process progresses.

For more information, contact Steve Gottwalt, CMBA Government Affairs, 952-923-5265, steve@gottwaltconsulting.com.

#     #     #