LSC is a B3 BEST!
LSC brought home the “cedar” in the higher education division of B3’s annual Best of B3 Benchmarking! WHOA, let’s unpack that jargon suitcase…
What’s B3? Simply put, it means Buildings Benchmark and Beyond (B x 3). Not helpful? From the B3 website,
The B3 tools and programs are designed to help make buildings more energy efficient and sustainable. The B3 programs have been developed for and are required on State-funded projects in Minnesota, however they are easily applied to any project. The B3 Guidelines and the SB 2030 Energy Standard can be applied to new and renovated buildings during design. B3 Benchmarking, B3 Energy Efficient Operations and the B3 Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) can be used to evaluate and improve existing buildings.
LSC is a state institution, which means we apply these high efficiency standards for most building and renovation projects. Each year, a team of experts takes a look at projects and identifies the over achievers in a number of categories. This year, LSC was recognized along with these other fine projects:
- City of Mankato Transit Facility
- DNR Area Office, Glenwood
- Higher Ground Saint Paul
- DNR Area Office, Glenwood
- Hamline Station Apartments
- M State – Moorhead Transportation Center: Addition and Renovation
- Metropolitan State University Jason R. Carter Science Education Center
- Minnesota State Normandale Community College Partnership Center
- University of Minnesota – Herbert M. Hanson Hall
- City of Hutchinson
- City of La Crescent
- City of Prior Lake
- Big Lake Schools
- Maple Lake Public Schools
- Wright Technical Center
- Department of Natural Resources
- Department of Correctional Facilities
- Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board
- Lake Superior College
- Minnesota West Community & Technical College – Worthington Campus
- Department of Transportation
- Minnesota Department of Military Affairs
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
And we won! Well, technically, we tied with Minnesota West Community and Technical College, which is okay with us, because energy efficiency is a WIN for everyone!
One last tidbit. How do they decide who wins? That’s the exciting part! B3 Benchmarking means we’re all doing just that, benchmarking and tracking our energy and water use data. Across our almost 400,000 square feet of building space, we achieved an 16% lower than code-based energy use intensity; a 10% reduction from 2015.
Check out the Minnesota State Campus B3 Benchmarking site for monthly updated energy data, because you can’t manage what you don’t measure!
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