Back to Work Minnesota: A Retrofit Jobs Initiative
Creating Jobs Through Energy Efficiency Retrofits
Energy efficiency has enormous promise for building owners, businesses, and communities - cutting energy bills, improving the working environment, and increasing the value of building across Minnesota. Senator Franken launched the Back to Work Minnesota initiative in October 2011 to raise the profile of energy efficiency projects and get more retrofits done in Minnesota. The initiative brings together local and national leaders to overcome current barriers and connect public and private building owners to resources that can help them identify retrofit opportunities.
Back to Work Minnesota Goals:
- Connect building owners to retrofit resources, including financing, technical services, and data tools.
- Promote the benefits of energy efficiency across the state.
- Highlight energy efficency projects happening now.
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Energy Efficiency Retrofits Explained
The Benefits of Retrofits
Resources Available for Retrofits
Partner With Us!
Energy Efficiency Retrofits Explained
An energy efficiency retrofit is the improvement made to the infrastructure of an existing building to increase its energy efficiency, comfort, safety, health, and durability. This could include improving building components, building operating systems and equipment, and installing energy efficiency appliances. A retrofit will reduce a building's energy use and lower a building owner's energy bills, so that the investment pays for itself in savings.
- JOBS: Energy efficiency retrofits create immediate jobs in construction, engineering and architecture industries and at related manufacturing companies like HVAC, windows, insulation etc. Minnesota has many construction companies, contractors, architecture firms, and manufacturing companies that have been hit hard by the recession. Retrofits can put them to work now.
- VALUE: Retrofits result in lower energy bills which mean they pay for themselves through energy savings. Retrofitting old buildings can improve property value and draw in higher value leases and high-paying tenants.
- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A study from the World Economic Forum has found that retrofitting commercial buildings could represent a $400 billion market in the U.S. alone. Retrofitting old buildings in Minnesota can revive neighborhoods and draw foot traffic. Retrofits provide continued energy savings on energy bills that can contribute to economic development in communities for years.
Resources to Retrofit Your Building:
**Back to Work Minnesota Financing Guide: Download the Back to Work Minnesota financing guide (pdf) prepared for building owners in Minnesota. It outlines various financing models available for building owners interested in investing in retrofits.
**Back to Work Minnesota Summit: Watch a video of a Back to Work Minnesota Summit featuring useful information about retrofit resources.
**Sen. Franken’s Op-Ed on the Benefits of Retrofits: Read why the Senator is so supportive of retrofits, and how energy efficiency can create jobs in Minnesota.
Financing Resources to Pay for Retrofits
Energy Smart Minnesota: Energy Smart connects Minnesota businesses to financial incentives for energy efficiency projects. The program is funded through state-approved utility conservation programs, and all services are provided for free. http://www.mnenergysmart.com/Minnesota Clean Energy Resources Teams: CERTs are non-partisan, non-advocacy groups that help building owners, businesses, and communities start money-saving energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. CERTs offer seed grants, provide information, and run local events and educational programs. http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/
Technical Services to Implement Retrofits
Minnesota Energy Services Coalition: The Energy Services Coalition is a network of retrofit experts that can help building owners identify and implement the best retrofit solutions. The coalition is working with the State Department of Commerce to establish voluntary standards, best practices, and educational resources on retrofitting and energy saving and performance contracts, which guarantee that retrofits will save building owners money. http://www.energyservicescoalition.org/about/St. Paul Port Authority Trillion BTU Project: The St. Paul Port Authority and the Minnesota Department of Commerce has created a loan program using federal stimulus dollars to help businesses reduce energy consumption. The program includes free energy audits by Xcel Energy, followed by engineering studies, 75% of which is also paid for by Xcel Energy. The energy efficiency retrofit is then covered by a Port Authorigy loan and an Xcel Energy rebate. Loan repayment is less than estimated energy savings, meaning businesses will get a free retrofit and improve their bottom line from this program. http://www.sppa.com/
EnergyStar: EnergyStar is a joint program run by the EPA and the DOE helping building owners implement energy efficiency techniques to save energy and money. Businesses can partner with Energy Star to develop energy management strategies to measure current energy performance, set energy reduction goals, track savings, and reap rewards for improvements. The EPA provides an energy performance rating system, which more than 200,000 businesses across the country have used. http://www.energystar.gov/
Benchmarking and Data Tools to Monitor Energy Use
State of Minnesota B3 Benchmarking Tool: B3 Benchmarking is a building energy management system for public buildings in Minnesota including state, local government, and public school buildings. The tool provides data on energy consumption so building managers can know which buildings are cost-effective candidates for retrofits, and can make smart efficiency improvements.
https://mn.b3benchmarking.com/default.aspx
If your company, organization, or association has services or products related to energy efficiency retrofits Senator Franken would love to partner with you. Contact Lisbeth Kaufman in the Washington DC office at (202) 224-5641 or Katherine Blauvelt in the Minnesota office at (651) 221-1016 to discuss how we can work together to promote your work, get more retrofits done, and start creating jobs.
