Commercial and multifamily buildings
You can apply for up to $75,000 in funds to reduce your building's energy use.
Overview
We help fund new energy-saving technology projects
- Get help for projects you haven't started yet.
- Do not apply for funding for projects you have already started or finished.
What to know
Apply
Eligibility
Eligible properties
Your property must meet these criteria:
- Located in the City of Minneapolis
- Property type is one of the following categories:
- Business/commercial
- Industrial
- Multifamily (five units or more)
- Nonprofit
Eligible projects
Your project must either:
- Qualify for an Xcel or CenterPoint utility rebate
- Electrify a piece of gas equipment
Other criteria:
- Grants, matches and rebates cannot exceed your total project cost.
- If you request more than $5,000 for LED lighting, your project must include a non-lighting component:
- Sensors
- Controls
- Other non-lighting efficiency project
Incentives
City match
Your city match is based on both of these:
- The total cost of the project
- The incentive category for which your project qualifies
| Category | Maximum match |
|---|---|
| Base | 20% up to $20,000 |
| Environmental Justice | 30% up to $30,000 |
| Affordable Housing | 40% up to $40,000 |
| Energy benchmarked building | 25% up to $75,000 |
Incentive categories
Base category
Any eligible property
Environmental justice category
Property must be located either in a Minneapolis:
- Green Zone
- Great Street Eligible Priority Area
Affordable housing category
Property qualifies for an affordable housing or utility bill support program, such as:
- Low Income Rental Classification (LIRC)
- Income Qualified Solar Rewards
- Minnesota Energy Assistance Program
- Weatherization Assistance Program
Energy benchmarking and equipment
Energy benchmarked building
Commercial and multifamily residential buildings greater than 50,000 square feet under the city’s Energy Benchmarking ordinance.
Read the Energy Benchmarking ordinance
Equipment guidelines
Equipment must meet the recommended minimum efficiency guidelines. Exception: if a utility energy audit partner recommends otherwise.
Minimum guidelines
Terms
- AFUE - Annual fuel utilization efficiency
- ECM - Electronically commutated motor
- EER - Energy efficiency ratio
- EF - Energy factor
- HSFP - Heating seasonal performance factor
- IEER - Integrated energy efficiency ratio
- SEER - Seasonal energy efficiency rating
- UEF - Uniform energy factor
| Boiler | 91% AFUE |
| Furnace | 96% AFUE or higher ECM motor |
| Gas water heater tank < 75,000 BTU | .68 UEF |
| Gas water heater tank > 75,000 BTU | 88% efficient |
| Gas water heater tankless | .87 UEF |
| Heat pump water heater | 3.5 EF |
| Attic/roof insulation - pitch roof | R-49 and air sealing |
| Attic/roof insulation - flat roof | Evaluated case by case |
| Wall insulation | Minimum of R-11 |
| Attic joist insulation | Minimum of R-10 |
| Ventilation - bathroom exhaust | Multispeed with ECM motor |
|
Air source heat pumps (SEER, EER, HSFP) |
Central: 16 SEER (10.5 EER), HSFP 9.5 Non-ducted: 16 SEER (9.0 EER), HSFP 10.6 |
|
Air source heat pumps (SEER2, EER2, HSFP2) |
Central: 15.2 SEER2 (10 EER2), HSFP2 8.1 Non-ducted: 16 SEER2 (9.0 EER2), HSFP2 9.5 |
| Rooftop Unit |
<5.4 Tons: 15 SEER or greater >5.4 Tons: 12 EER and 13 IEER or greater |
Get started
The first thing you should do is schedule an energy audit.
- We recommend scheduling the audit at least one month before the application is due.
Helpful organizations
Contact one of these organizations for help:
Related links
Contact us
Green Cost Share
Minneapolis Health Department
Phone
Address
Public Service Building505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 520Minneapolis, MN 55415