In today’s competitive housing market, energy efficiency has emerged as a major consideration for homebuyers. Builders in Minnesota are adopting innovative approaches to showcase their homes’ energy performance, ensuring transparency and accessibility to potential buyers.
Created by Housing First Minnesota in 2011, Minnesota’s Green Path program is the leading energy efficiency and green building program for the residential construction industry in the state. The program provides easy-to-understand energy efficiency reports for homeowners and provides recognition for builders dedicated to green construction.
Minnesota’s Green Path offers three green certification levels: Energy Tested, Advanced, and Master. Each certification level receives a Home Performance Report (HPR) revealing the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index for the project to provide a comprehensive assessment of a home’s energy efficiency. The lower a home’s HERS Score, the better its energy efficiency.
Energy Tested is the base level and provides each new home with an HPR. Advanced Certified is the mid-level green certification that means a home has met an energy testing standard plus includes additional green features. Master Certified, the top level, means a home has exceeded the Advanced Certified standards and meets a higher level of energy tested standards. To learn more about the three certification levels, click here >>
These certifications go beyond standard practices, highlighting homes that meet exceptional criteria for energy performance and sustainability. Builders achieving these levels demonstrate leadership in reducing carbon footprints while delivering tangible benefits to homeowners, such as lower utility bills and enhanced comfort. In 2024, 30 homes achieved Advanced or Master certification.
These builders each built home(s) that achieved Advanced certification in 2024:
- Cuddigan Custom Builders, LLC (1)
- D.R. Horton, Inc. – Minnesota (1)
- Eternity Homes, LLC (1)
- Hanson Builders, Inc. (4)
- Lennar (15)
- McDonald Construction Partners, LLC (1)
- Ron Clark Construction (1)
- Stonegate Builders (1)
These builders each built home(s) that achieved Master certification in 2024:
- Custom One Homes (1)
- Hagstrom Builder (2)
- Michels Homes (1)
- Paltrin, LLC (1)
Congratulations to everyone on this list for their commitment to green building and a more sustainable future.
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As a part of Xcel Energy’s commitment to green building, it has teamed up with Minnesota’s Green Path to recognize new homes that go above and beyond in energy efficiency. Xcel Energy covers the $79 Advanced and Master Certification application fees for builders that build in their territory and achieve Advanced or Master certification on their homes. Learn more >>
