The historic Grain Exchange Buildings, owned and operated by Minneapolis Grain Exchange, Inc. (MGEX) and a staple in downtown Minneapolis since 1902, have earned the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR Certification. The rating signifies the Grain Exchange Buildings perform in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meet strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA.
Commercial buildings earning the ENERGY STAR Certification use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings and release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The Grain Exchange Buildings improved its energy performance by managing energy strategically across the entire organization and by making costeffective improvements.
“On behalf of MGEX and the Grain Exchange Buildings, I am pleased to accept the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Certification in recognition of our energy efficiency efforts,” Blake Tiedeman, Director of Real Estate, MGEX said. “MGEX is committed to environmental stewardship while also lowering our energy costs,” Tiedeman said.
The original Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce Building, built on the site of the current Grain Exchange North Building at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Third Street, was erected in 1884. The Exchange quickly outgrew the edifice and in 1902 opened the first of three buildings at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Fourth Street. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated for preservation by the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission, the Grain Exchange Buildings offer modern office space with a classic appeal. For more information on the historic Grain Exchange Buildings, visit www.mgex.com/realestate. For leasing information, contact the Real Estate office at (612) 321-7170.
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. For more information about ENERGY STAR certification, visit www.energystar.gov.